HYDERABAD: Awami Tehreek organised rallies under the banner of ‘Sujag Baarh Tehreek (SBT)’ in Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar, Tando Mohammad Khan, Shahdadpur, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur and some other districts to mark the World Water Day on Saturday.

One of the rallies was taken out from the Old Campus area in Hyderabad to the local press club. It was led by SBT president Fazil Khosa, its Hyderabad district organiser Sarmad Saeendad Khasakheli and others.

In Tando Allahyar, another rally was staged in Bheel Colony under the leadership of Shayan Samejo and yet another rally was taken out in Shahdadpur which was led by district organiser Ramesh Bheel along with Alam Sariwa. The Tando Mohammad Khan rally was led by district organiser Danish Meghwar along with Rajesh Gawaro. It was taken out from Sujawal Chowk and ended outside the local press club.

Participants of the rallies were addressed by their respective leaders, who condemned federal government’s six new canals project. They deplored that Sindh’s water resources were being plundered for 150 years. The Indus delta stood destroyed and the Indus River drying up, they said.

In Sukkur, men, women and children held a demonstration along the Indus bank near Sadhu Belo and showered rose petals on the surface of the Indus as a symbol of respect.

They vowed to continue their movement against the canals project and resolved to safeguard Sindh’s right on its resources.

Their leaders, speaking to them and the local media, called for restoration of all natural waterways and hydrological cycle and demanded release of at least 30 million acre feet of water downstream Kotri Barrage on an emergency basis to protect glaciers and ensure such releases annually.

The AT leaders who spoke to the participants were its president Advocate Vasand Thari, senior vice president Noor Ahmed Katiar, Sarwan Jatoi, Advocate Sachal Bhatti, Ayaz Kaloi, Sarwech Sindhi, Fayyaz Soomro, Sindhiani Tehreek (women wing) central deputy secretary Sindhu Mallah, district president Shamshad Bapar, Paras Bhatti, Hina Baloch, Noor Bano Brohi, Fiza Phulpoto, and others.

Accusing Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of clandestinely supporting the canals project and encouraging Punjab government to execute it, they said Sindhi people would not participate in PPP’s so-called protests.

Alluding to PPP’s invitation to other parties for a joint struggle, they said that it was aimed at hijacking the sustained movement for political gains.

In Mirpurkhas city, AT and SBT leaders organised rallies in different areas. They were led by Lala Azhar Pathan, Wajid Leghari, Masood Wassan, Dodo Panhwar, Ali Rahim, Mushtaque Leghari and others.

Other rallies were held in different areas including Jhuddo and Digri to mark World Water Day and condemn the canals project.

Men, women, youths and children in large numbers took part in the rallies.

Participants of the Digri rally started their march from Lakhi Mori and ended it outside the local press club. They kept raising slogans against the canals project during the march.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2025