Pakistan: Lawyers Threaten to Halt Railway Traffic Over Indus River Canal Issue
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Synopsis
On April 20, lawyers in Pakistan announced that they will block railway tracks on April 21 in protest against the Indus River canal project. The Karachi Bar Association's president criticized the government and demanded cancellation of the project, while tensions rise between ruling coalition partners over the issue.
Key Takeaways
- Lawyers' protests against Indus River canal escalate.
- Blocking railway tracks planned to disrupt train services.
- Karachi Bar Association demands project cancellation.
- PML-N and PPP clash over canal construction.
- PPP threatens to exit government over the issue.
Islamabad, April 20 (NationPress) The lawyers' association in Pakistan has issued a warning that during the next phase of their protest against the canal project on the Indus River, scheduled for April 21, they will start blocking railway tracks to disrupt train operations between Sindh and Punjab.
The National Highway in Sindh has already been obstructed at two locations as protestors conducted a sit-in demonstration in the Babarloi town of Khairpur district, according to local media.
During the protest on Saturday, the President of the Karachi Bar Association, Amir Warraich, who is leading the sit-in, urged the federal government to retract the canal project within two days.
He criticized the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), asserting that the government behaves like a sub-nationalist entity focused solely on serving the interests of Punjab.
He accused the federal government of disregarding protests in Sindh, which have garnered support from various groups, including doctors, engineers, teachers, writers, poets, lawyers, journalists, students, women, and children.
The outgoing President of the Sindh High Court Bar Association, Ayaz Tunio, warned that the protestors would not disperse until the government issues a formal cancellation of the project, as reported by Pakistan's leading daily, The Express Tribune.
In the meantime, allies of the ruling coalition in the Pakistan government—PML-N and Pakistan People's Party (PPP)—have clashed again over the construction of six canals on the Indus River.
PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah stated in an interview with Geo News that the PPP's opposition to the canals is merely propaganda intended for political advantage.
“The PPP is part of the government and must act responsibly; the water issue is too critical to be exploited for political gain,” declared Sanaullah.
This statement followed PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari threatening to exit the government unless the contentious canal project on the Indus River is abandoned.
Addressing a large public gathering at the Hatri Bypass Ground in Hyderabad late Friday night, Bhutto asserted that his party would not support the federal government if it fails to withdraw the controversial projects, despite acknowledging the PPP's concerns.
He expressed frustration that the government is neither listening to its coalition partner nor reversing its decision to build new canals.
“I had thought Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would reconsider the project after the backlash, as he realizes that without PPP support, he cannot conduct assembly sessions or pass the budget. However, he seems unwilling to abandon the project. If that is the case, we are equally resolute,” added Bilawal Bhutto.
