Demonstrations Erupt in Pakistan Against 'Anti-People' Policies and Rights Abuses in Sindh
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Synopsis
Protests are sweeping across Pakistan as citizens rally against perceived anti-people policies and the violation of Sindh's rights, particularly focusing on corporate farming and canal construction. The Mehnatkash Aurat Rally mobilized thousands, including activists and farmers, advocating for Sindh's rights and denouncing gender oppression.
Key Takeaways
- Protests in Pakistan target anti-people policies.
- Mehnatkash Aurat Rally sees massive participation.
- Zehra Khan highlights Sindh's rights issues.
- Lawyers protest against controversial canal projects.
- Call for solidarity with Sindh against oppressive policies.
Karachi, March 9 (NationPress) A wave of protests has swept across Pakistan recently, as citizens express their discontent against what they label as anti-people policies and the infringement of Sindh's rights.
The demonstrations are specifically focused on corporate farming practices and the development of six new canals in Sindh, according to local media.
A notable event, referred to as the Mehnatkash Aurat Rally, witnessed a large turnout of working-class women. This rally commenced at the Youth Auditorium and concluded at the Arts Council of Pakistan, attracting a diverse crowd including women, men, farmers, and transgender individuals from various areas.
Leading the rally was Zehra Khan, the General Secretary of the Home-Based Women Workers Federation, who chanted slogans against the detrimental water projects in Sindh, land encroachments, and the escalating food crisis, as reported by the Pakistani daily, The Express Tribune.
Zehra Khan cautioned that the civilization of Sindh is under severe threat due to governmental decisions. She brought attention to challenges such as climate change, floods, the misuse of water resources, and the degradation of the Indus Delta, which jeopardizes the existence of millions in Sindh.
Additionally, she highlighted that these adversities have led to mass exodus from Sindh, decreased agricultural yield, and a worsening food crisis. Khan called on progressive factions in Punjab to challenge their leaders' canal policies and advocate for Sindh's rights to secure the province's future.
The Mehnatkash Aurat Rally further condemned gender discrimination, outdated social norms, and biases against women. Participants urged the people of Punjab and progressive groups nationwide to unite in solidarity with Sindh, asserting that the ruling elite worked in concert to enforce damaging policies, as reported by the prominent Pakistani newspaper Dawn.
Numerous farmers participated in the rally, voicing their support for Sindh's rights and denouncing the canal initiatives led by Punjab's authorities.
In a separate occurrence, the Karachi Bar Association (KBA) and the Hyderabad Bar Council hosted a protest in Karachi against the controversial canal projects, the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the transfer of Sindh's lands for corporate agriculture, and the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025, as noted by Dawn.
The protest by lawyers caused traffic disruptions on Sharea Faisal near the FTC flyover and nearby routes leading to the press club.
Protesters, consisting of around 500-600 lawyers, claimed that a One-Unit governance system had been effectively imposed across the nation, with construction on the contested canal projects nearing completion without the necessary consent from the Council of Common Interest.
They argued that the population had rejected these initiatives and vowed to persist in opposition to their development.
