KARACHI-UNS: Spokesperson for Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, Shazia Marri, has issued a strong statement calling on the federal government to immediately withdraw its controversial plan to construct six new canals on the River Indus.
She warned that the federal government should take serious note of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s recent warning, otherwise it risks collapsing at any moment.
“Yesterday, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto addressed a massive public rally in Hyderabad where the people outright rejected the federal government’s canal project,” said Shazia Marri. “The public is already suffering from an acute water shortage—there is no justification whatsoever for carving out new canals.”
Shazia Marri emphasized Chairman Bilawal’s unwavering stance with the people. “Chairman Bilawal has made it clear—if it comes to choosing between the government and the people, he will always stand with the people,” she said.
She reiterated that the strength of the Pakistan Peoples Party lies solely in the people, not in ministries or positions of power. “At yesterday’s rally, the crowd could be heard chanting in unison: ‘No to canals!’—a clear and resounding message to the federal government.”
Highlighting the historical context of this struggle, Marri added, “The fight for water rights is part of Chairman Bilawal’s legacy—Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto also fiercely opposed the Kalabagh Dam. When she raised her voice against that controversial project, PPP supporters from across the nation came out in protest. Bilawal Bhutto is now following in his mother’s footsteps.”
She emphasized that PPP does not oppose for the sake of opposition. “We reject this canal project because it poses a real threat to the federation. No project that is rejected by the people of the provinces can ever be in favor of the federation,” she said.
Chairman Bilawal also raised concerns about the broader implications of such policies. “The country is already facing a serious threat from terrorism, and yet a divisive issue has been introduced that could pit brother against brother,” Shazia Marri quoted him as saying.
She concluded by reiterating PPP’s stance: “We do not seek ministries. But when it comes to the issue of canals, we will not back down. Water scarcity is already a grave problem in the country—what is the logic of building new canals under these circumstances?”
“To those who think they can intimidate the PPP with threats—they are mistaken. The Pakistan Peoples Party has never backed down, and it never will,” she said. “Our movement is not for personal or political gains. We are fighting to protect the River Indus and to safeguard the federation.”She said. next public rally of the Pakistan Peoples Party will be held in Sukkur on April 25, 2025.
