Protests Over Canal Project Disrupt Sindh and Punjab Traffic

The demonstration at Khairpur Baberlo bypass, protesting a controversial canal initiative, has entered its eleventh day, causing traffic disruptions between Sindh and Punjab. Similarly, the demonstration near Daharki on the National Highway, specifically at Mangrio Pump, has persisted for nine consecutive days.

Demonstrations are also being conducted in Kamo Shaheed in Obaro and Gola Mor in Kandhkot, significantly disrupting traffic flow between Sindh and Balochistan, with extensive vehicle queues reported along crucial routes.

The Cholistan Canals project has become a contentious issue between the Sindh government, led by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and the federal government, overseen by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The federal administration intends to develop six canals along the Indus River to provide irrigation to the Cholistan desert. This plan has faced opposition from the PPP, a key ally, and various Sindh nationalist factions.

Government sources indicate that the Cholistan canal and system project is estimated to cost Rs211.4 billion. It aims to repurpose thousands of acres of unused land for agricultural purposes, potentially cultivating 400,000 acres.

Numerous political and religious organizations, nationalist groups, and civil society organizations have organized large-scale rallies throughout Sindh in opposition to the debated plan.

Despite the federal government’s decision to postpone the project due to strong opposition from the PPP, led by Bilawal Bhutto, and the scheduling of a Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting on May 2, protests by legal professionals, political entities, and various societal segments continue to affect the province.

The ongoing demonstrations feature protests at two locations in Ghotki, where attorneys have been staging a demonstration on the National Highway, near the Punjab border, for six days.

Additionally, a demonstration involving lawyers and other participants is ongoing on Gulshan-e-Hadid Link Road in Karachi, resulting in the closure of both inbound and outbound lanes of the National Highway, as confirmed by traffic authorities.

Traffic from Karachi heading toward Thatta is being redirected towards the Port Qasim roundabout.

Lawyers in Karachi’s City Court are maintaining their protest against the canal project, keeping the entrances closed to the public for another day. Only legal professionals are permitted to enter the court complex.

The protesting lawyers have stated that their demonstration will persist until the notification concerning the canal construction is rescinded. Nevertheless, regular judicial operations are continuing at the Sindh High Court.

Following instances of police using force and tear gas against demonstrators in Malir, Kandhkot, and Padidan, protests have grown in other cities, such as Hyderabad, Thatta, Dadu, Matiari, Hala, and Nawabshah. In response, legal professionals and political parties have arranged demonstrations across these areas to condemn the police actions.

In a related development, the Lawyers Action Committee has declared the suspension of Sindh’s Law Minister Zia Lanjar’s membership from the Sindh Bar Council.

Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Memon stated that the disputed canals matter would be conclusively addressed at the Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting scheduled for May 2.

He urged all political groups and legal professionals to conclude their demonstrations and clear the blocked roads.