Council of Common Interests) functions as a Punjab-dominated institution – Awami Tehreek 

Moro, Sindh  

A protest march was organized by Awami Tehreek in Moro town of Naushahro Feroze district on Sunday May 11, 2025 against the construction of canals from River Indus in Punjab, corporate farming, artificial water scarcity in Sindh, construction of the Diamer Bhasha Dam, and the encroachment on Sindh’s mineral resources.

The protest was led by Central President of Awami Tehreek Advocate Vasand Thari, Senior Vice President Noor Ahmed Katiyar, Latif Bhatti, Hussain Soomro, and others. A large number of women from the Sindhyani Tehreek participated, along with children, youth, farmers, and laborers. They chanted slogans against corporate farming projects and the Bhasha Dam. They pledged to continue the struggle until all projects on the Indus River are shelved.

Speaking on the occasion, Advocate Vasand Thari and Noor Ahmed Katiyar said the decision to construct new canals on the Indus River has not yet been reversed. “The CCI’s decision is unconstitutional and a conspiracy to weaken the Sindhi nation’s struggle. The CCI (Council of Common Interests) functions as a Punjab-dominated institution. Institutions like IRSA and CCI represent Punjab instead of the federal structure.”

The leaders said the establishment and agent rulers of global imperialism have turned the secular and enlightened Pakistan envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah into a prison for oppressed nations. Pakistan has become a unitary state instead of a federal one.

Under Article 155 Clause 2 of the Constitution of Pakistan, the CCI has the authority to completely overturn such decisions if a complaint is made. But the federal government, cunningly, did not completely annul the canal decision. The PPP has made deals on the Indus River and Sindh’s lands. The PPP is a key component of the federal government, which cannot function even for a day without it. If Bilawal is truly against the canals, then President Zardari should resign and leave the federal alliance to stand with the Sindhi people in this struggle.

Despite severe water scarcity in Sindh, the opening of the Taunsa-Panjnad and Chashma-Jhelum link canals shows Punjab’s insensitivity. IRSA remains a silent spectator. Water is being stolen from Sindh between Chashma and Guddu Barrage, yet IRSA doesn’t say a word.

They declared that the people of Sindh will not tolerate any dam or canal on the Indus River. If the federal government allocates a budget for the dam, the people of Sindh will reject such an anti-national budget. Allocating funds for the Diamer Bhasha Dam is an attack on Sindh and a conspiracy to block its water. It has been reported in newspapers that a budget preparation meeting took place last Friday in which the Bhasha Dam budget was discussed. They believe this is a conspiratorial move against the country.

They affirmed that the Awami Tehreek’s struggle will continue against corporate farming projects, new canals, and dams on the Indus River. The scope of the struggle will be expanded even further. (PR)