Protesting lawyers threaten to paralyse Sindh-Punjab train service from today

SUKKUR: The leaders of the lawyers’ sit-in at Babarloi bypass, Khairpur, have threatened to formally paralyse Sindh-Punjab train service from Monday (today) if the controversial canals project was not officially withdrawn by the federal government, as a caravan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also joined the protest on Sunday.

JSQM activists reportedly blocked railway track in Khairpur, Gambat and other cities of the province to halt Karachi-Lahore rail services. However, passengers suffered immense hardship owing to sweltering heat. Similarly, all markets remained closed on the day.

Lawyers alleged that their sit-in was fired upon by unidentified double-cabin vehicles due to which two participants of the sit-in sustained injuries.

Addressing the sit-in participants, the lawyer leaders said 72 hours had been passed since the sit-in started but the federal government did not bother to make any announcement for withdrawing the canals project.

The lawyers protest, backed by different nationalist parties, has completely blocked the key Sindh-Punjab route, halting inter-provincial traffic to draw attention of the authorities on growing unrest over water resource disputes.

Students, civil society members, political activists, and people from all walks of life have joined the sit-in, raising slogans against the canals project and corporate farming, which they claim threaten Sindh’s water rights and environmental stability.

Aamir Nawaz Waraich, President District Bar Association Karachi, Sarfaraz Maitlo, President Sindh High Court Bar Association and other lawyer leaders said the corporate farming and canals project would ruin the life of Sindh farmers, adding the people of the entire province will become part of the lawyers’ movement against the canals project. They said the sit-in will not end until the federal government issues a notification to cancel the canals project.

Representatives of civil society, Medical Stores Association, doctors, traders and other stakeholders provided food, water bottles, fruit, medicines and other items to the sit-in participants.

In a show of solidarity, a caravan of PTI leaders and workers, led by PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh, travelled from Karachi to Sukkur to participate in the protest. The PTI caravan, which departed Karachi early morning, included PTI Sindh General Secretary Dr Masroor Siyal, MPA Chaudhry Owais, Sajid Hussain, and various other party leaders.

Addressing the sit-in, Haleem Adil Sheikh accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of compromising Sindh’s rights and its share of water from the Indus River in exchange for political power.

“The lawyers’ community deserves commendation for standing up for Sindh’s future. The people of Sindh stand united. We will not allow even single drop of Sindh’s water to be diverted through these canals,” Sheikh said.

He alleged that Asif Ali Zardari, in his capacity as president of the country and a stakeholder in the federal setup, had entered into secret agreements compromising Sindh’s water resources. “On one hand, Zardari signs agreements with the federal government, and on the other he orchestrates fake protests to deceive the public. If he truly cares about Sindh, he should resign from the presidency and part ways with the federation,” Sheikh demanded.

The PTI Sindh president reiterated the party’s long-standing support for the Save Indus River Movement. “(PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has sent a message from jail: we will not allow any injustice against the people of Sindh, and we will resist any attempt to rob Sindh of its water,” Sheikh said.

Separately, speaking to a gathering at the sit-in, Central President Awami Tahreek Advocate Wasand Thari said the party had stood strong at the Babarlo sit-in for three days shoulder-to-shoulder with the protesting advocates. “Our struggle is unstoppable. We demand the rulers cancel all anti-Sindh projects forthwith,” he said.