Larkana (Web Desk): Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday demanded that the federal government should withdraw from controversial canal project.
Addressing a massive public gathering on the occasion of the 46th death anniversary of PPP’s founding chairman Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, that the demand for halting the project wasn't just coming from his party but was the genuine request of the people, emphasizing the need for unity among the provinces.
Bilawal warned that the PPP would not tolerate any "irresponsible decisions" regarding the distribution of water and made it clear that his party would resist any attempts to divide the nation through such divisive projects.
Reflecting on the party's long history of standing up for fair water distribution, Bilawal reminded the public that it was his late mother, former premier Benazir Bhutto, who had successfully blocked a contentious dam project during her time in power.
He questioned those who were now speaking out against the issue, pointing out that it was the PPP that had first stood up to these kinds of projects in the past.
Bilawal further emphasized that his party had consistently opposed the canals project, whether under the rule of General Musharraf or during the tenure of PTI founder Imran Khan.
He criticized the government for taking a one-sided approach on the matter, revealing that the PPP had already rejected the project during internal party meetings and in a joint parliamentary session led by his father, President Asif Ali Zardari.
The PPP chief also expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the matter, stating that his party had distanced itself from the project.
He urged the authorities to reassess the reports from the Indus River System Authority (Irsa), which, according to him, pointed to water shortages affecting not only Sindh but also Punjab.
Bilawal also took aim at political opponents, accusing them of only recently becoming vocal on the issue, while the PPP had been raising concerns from the very beginning.
He pointed out that when the canal projects were first initiated under Imran Khan’s leadership, it was only the PPP that stood in opposition, while other political figures remained silent.
Bilawal reaffirmed that the PPP would continue to reject the project, stressing that any attempt to divide the Indus River or create rifts between the provinces would be met with resistance.
He urged the federal government to pay attention to the voices of the people in both Sindh and Punjab and ensure fair water distribution, reiterating that for the PPP, this issue was non-negotiable.