HYDERABAD, June 29: The Seraikistan Qaumi Movement (SQM) on Saturday supported the struggle of the Anti-Thal Canal Action Committee against the construction of the greater Thal canal.

Speaking at a press conference at the Hyderabad Press Club, the chief of the SQM, Hameed Asghar Shaheen, along with the chairman, Sindh Taraqqi Passand Party, Dr Qadir Magsi, stressed the need for taking the movement to the Seraiki belt of Punjab.

They, however, made it clear that the two parties would certainly launch a struggle in the Seraiki belt, and added that the Thal canal project would have to be rejected to save the federation.

Hameed Asghar Shaheen claimed that before the construction of the barrages, 175 MAF water was available in the Indus River but due to different water schemes launched by the rulers, Sindhi and Seraiki people were facing an acute shortage of water.

He criticized the utterances of the Punjab irrigation minister, Aamir Sultan Cheema, who has branded Sindhis as “the agents of the Hindu lobby,” and added that the entire administration was trying to protect Mr Cheema.

He said that it was not only the question of the Thal canal as seven other small and big dams were also in the pipeline.

HESCO: Power consumers of Doctors’ Colony, Pathan Colony, Millat-i-Islamia Colony and Mirs Tombs held a protest demonstration outside the press club here on Sunday against Hesco.