GDA rejects plan to amend Irsa Act, addition of six canals
KARACHI: Grand Democratic Alliance chief Pir Pagara on Thursday rejected the proposed amendments to the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) Act and federal government’s plan to construct six more canals in the Indus River.
“We will not permit any theft of Sindh’s water,” he said while chairing the meeting of the GDA’s core committee.
He said that a conspiracy was being hatched under the garb of a new scheme to curtail supply of potable water to Karachi.
Pir Pagara told the meeting that he was ready to make every sacrifice for the rights of the people of the province.
Theft of Sindh’s water will not be permitted, vows Pir Pagara
He emphasised that the people would have to wake up to claim their legitimate rights. “The GDA will continue its struggle for the issues facing the people of the province,” he added.
Besides Pir Pagara who is also the chief of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F), other participants of the GDA’s core committee were Sadruddin Shah Rashidi, Muhammad Ali Durrani, Dr Safdar Abbasi, former Sindh chief ministers Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, Liaquat Jatoi and Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi, Syed Zain Shah, Ayaz Latif Palio, Dr Zulfiqar Mirza , Syed Rashid Shah, Sardar Abdul Rahim, Saira Bano, Hasnain Mirza and Hassan Mirza.
A GDA press release stated that Mr Durrani, who is the secretary-general of the PML-F briefed participants about the political developments taking place at the federal level.
It said that the meeting decided to further mobilise the “Save River Indus’ campaign.
It added that the core committee also resolved to organise the alliance at the divisional, district, and central levels very soon.
The participants viewed the proposed amendments to the Irsa Act as a conspiracy to weaken the federation.
They called the proposal for six additional canals from the Indus River a violation of the Constitution.
Stressing the need of establishment of a genuine democracy in the country, the GDA rejected the Feb 8 general elections “as fraudulent and based on Form-47s”.
The GDA meeting also rejected the 26th Amendment to the Constitution and said that it was passed by a “fake assembly”.
The participants also raised concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in the province and the injustices against journalists.
Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2024