THATTA, March 24: Hundreds of political activists, lawyers and people from various walks of life staged a sit-in on the National Highway here on Thursday on the arrival of the Awami Tehrik’s long march against the Kalabagh dam.

Activists of the AT, Sindhiani Tehrik, People’s Party Parliamentarians, Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party and Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz and members of the District Bar Association participated in the sit-in which resulted in suspension of vehicular traffic for over two hours.

On the occasion, AT chief Rasool Bux Palijo, Sindhiani Tehrik president Zahida Shaikh, educationist Aapa Maryam Majidi, PPP leader Babu Ghulam Hussain and others delivered speeches and Sarvaich Sujawali and Wasand Thari recited national songs.

Mr Palijo said that the federal government, which had been unconstitutionally grabbed power by an army general, had betrayed Sindh by giving some of its water share to Punjab and conspiring to construct the controversial dam.

For doing so, he said, the general had hired the services of some Sindhi feudal lords who had a track record of being sold out for achieving their petty interests.

However, he warned that the rulers must beware that 40 million people of Sindh would fight for their legitimate rights till the last drop of their blood.

Mr Palijo said that the warm welcome accorded to participants of the ‘long march’ at different places had proved that there was a consensus among the people of Sindh over rejection of disputed water projects.

He said that the Sindh Assembly had thrice passed resolutions against the dam and the Balochistan and NWFP assemblies had also adopted similar resolutions in the past even then the rulers were bent upon constructing it.

He said that Sindh Minister Papoo Shah was going to organize a rally in Badin on March 26 to be addressed by President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz for convincing the people in favour of the dam, adding that the history of Sindh would never forgive Mr Shah.