Sindh’s opposition parties reject proposed amendments to Irsa Act

The Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and other opposition parties in Sindh have rejected the proposed amendments to the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) Act, and demanded the resignation of President Asif Ali Zardari.

They said that the amendments to the Irsa Act are completely unconstitutional and illegal, describing them as a deep conspiracy to once again turn Sindh barren. They declared that they would not allow these amendments to be implemented under any circumstances.

The opposition parties announced holding demonstrations across the province on September 19 to protest against anti-Sindh decisions made at the Presidential House, urging the public to fully participate in the protest drive.

This announcement was made during a joint press conference by GDA Sindh General Secretary Dr Safdar Abbasi, Sardar Abdul Rahim, Liaquat Ali Jatoi, Syed Zain Shah, Masroor Jatoi, Riaz Chandio, Ali Palh Advocate, Rizwan Khanzada, Muhammad Hussain Mehnati and other leaders on Tuesday.

Dr Abbasi said that the proposed amendments to the Irsa Act would destroy the Indus River system. Elaborating on the Act, water distribution and the 1991 Water Accord, he said that there had been a national consensus on the accord, and that Irsa operates under its framework.

He mentioned that water issues are always handled by the Council of Common Interests. In July a meeting was held at the Presidential House, where amendments to the Irsa Act had been discussed, leading to a significant public backlash.

The current Pakistan Peoples Party government has always plundered Sindh’s resources, claimed Abbasi, describing the issue as a matter of life and death for the province’s residents. He insisted that the lower areas of Sindh have a greater right to the Indus River, and that the province’s agriculture is being destroyed.

Sindh United Party leader Syed Zain Shah added that creating new command areas would destroy the water system, warning that if water is not released into the sea, cities like Karachi, Hyderabad and Tando Muhammad Khan would be inundated with seawater. He called for Zardari’s resignation, warning that if he does not step down, the Sindh Assembly should resign.

Former Sindh chief minister Liaquat Jatoi stressed that Sindh must receive its due share of water, and that Zardari had not taken the stakeholders into confidence before proposing the amendments to the Irsa Act.

He lamented that millions of acres of land in Badin remain uncultivated, worsening the country’s economic conditions. He also mentioned that a clause in the 1991 agreement mandated the release of 10 MAF of water downstream of Kotri, which has not been implemented.