Lawyers in Sindh Conclude Protests Following Canal Project Withdrawal

A sense of relief spread across Sindh on Tuesday as lawyers officially brought an end to their ongoing demonstrations. This decision followed the Council of Common Interests (CCI) choice to retract the contentious new canals initiative from the Indus River.

This development signifies a major triumph for the province, which had experienced widespread discontent over concerns about the project’s possible ecological and socioeconomic repercussions.

Spearheaded by the All Sindh Lawyers Action Committee, the demonstrations involved hundreds of lawyers and activists who organized sit-ins throughout various cities, all advocating for the project’s cessation.

The project’s retraction was celebrated as a significant achievement, notably by participants at the Baberlo Bypass protest location in Khairpur, which had persisted for twelve days. The demonstrators lauded the event, perceiving it as a victory for Sindh’s solidarity and defiance.

The All Sindh Lawyers Action Committee announced the conclusion of the protests, confirming the termination of all sit-ins, except for the one at Baberlo Bypass. The committee clarified that while most demonstrations and court boycotts would end by April 30, the Baberlo sit-in would persist until additional demands, including the annulment of corporate farming projects, were resolved.

Amir Nawaz Warraich, Sarfraz Maitlo, Rehman Korai, and others stated that discussions with the Sindh government are scheduled in Sukkur in the coming days to advance the remaining demands.

These encompass the elimination of corporate farming, the dismissal of legal actions against protesting lawyers, and the restitution of seized vehicles. The committee emphasized that while the withdrawal of the canals project represented a favorable advancement, the struggle would persist on other issues.

All Sindh Action Committee Lawyers leaders Aamir Nawaz Waraich, Sarfaraz Maitlo, Rehman Korai and others conducted a joint press briefing and declared the termination of the sit-in from Baberloi bypass Khairpur, which had lasted for 12 days.

Aamir Nawaz Waraich noted that the federal government had addressed the canal demand by ending the project. However, the demand for corporate farming remained unresolved. He mentioned a meeting between core committee members and Zia Lanjar, where corporate farming and the leasing of 14,000 acres of land were discussed. Zia Lanjar assured that the land had not been allocated and offered to provide relevant documents. The negotiating committee will review these documents for further action, and the Sindh government committee has responded positively. Waraich asserted that they would confront anyone threatening the country’s interests.

Sarfaraz Maitlo stated in a press conference that they would oppose any transfer of Sindh’s land and advocate for its allocation to impoverished farmers, prioritizing those with less than 25 acres for leasing. He emphasized that they would prioritize Sindh’s interests above all else and urged Modi to reconsider his approach.