Awami Tehreek's Protest against canals, corporate farming, and IRSA act amendments continues; Rally and Sit-in Held in Padidan and Naushahro Feroz
Chehra WebDesk
Awami Tehreek's Protest against canals, corporate farming, and IRSA act amendments continues; Rally and Sit-in Held in Padidan and Naushahro Feroz
Padidan/Naushahro Feroz : The Awami Tehreek (AT) continues its series of protests, sit-ins, rallies, and demonstrations against six strategic canals on the Indus River, corporate farming, and amendments to the IRSA act. AT vows to persist in its struggle until the exploitation of the Indus River is halted.
In Padidan, a massive rally led by Awami Tehreek’s Central President Advocate Vasand Thari, Senior Vice President Noor Ahmed Katiar, Naushahro Feroz District President Latif Bhatti, Hussain Soomro, Dr. Fida Bharijo,Ali Nawaz Almani, Sarwar Sindhi, Salam Somro, Shahid Solangi,Sattar Umrani, Sindhyani Tehreek's member Momal Dahri, Sana Rajpar, Sindh Sabhita and others marched from the Nusrat Canal through the city’s main roads to the Jalal chowk. While a sit-in and public gathering were held, there in front of the Press club, where leaders condemned the prolonged exploitation of the Indus River.
Vasand Thari, Central President of Awami Tehreek, said: "The Cholistan Canal is more dangerous than the Kalabagh Dam. These canals and corporate farming projects aim to displace Sindhis from their homeland. The Indus River has been fragmented by dams and canals, destroying the Indus Delta. Millions in Sindh are unemployed and displaced. The Punjab government must account for 150 years of Sindh’s water theft."
Noor Ahmed Katiar, Senior Vice President of Awami Tehreek, stated "Anyone supporting these canals and corporate farming is an enemy of the nation. These projects threaten Pakistan’s integrity. The federal government’s approval of these plans is a betrayal."
Latif Bhatti, Awami Tehreek District President Naushahro Feroz, said "Land should be given to local farmers, not corporate entities. The PPP, despite ruling Sindh for 16 years, has done nothing to protect the Indus. Instead, they approved canals and IRSA amendments on July 8, 2024. Both PPP and PTI are anti-Sindh and complicit in selling out our resources."
They further added that the PTI is also dramatizing its opposition, much like the PPP، while failing to mobilize meaningful agitation against corporate farming or dismantle the SIFC (Special Investment Facilitation Council). They claimed PTI leader and former President Arif Alvi’s endorsement of investment laws enabled anti-Sindh entities, alleging that Arif Alvi and Imran Khan played an active role in creating the SIFC, which "killed democracy by shifting all powers to a non-elected body." "Zardari mafia has sold out Sindh’s resources. The PPP has pushed Sindh backward over 16 years," they asserted.
The Awami Tehreek pledged to continue its struggle alongside Sindh’s people to protect the Indus River, demanding accountability for centuries of exploitation and resisting projects that threaten Sindh’s survival.
