KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has issued a serious warning to the federal government over the Sindh Canals Project, saying that if the plan is not halted, his party might rethink its support. However, he made it clear that they do not want to reach that point. “Let’s sit and talk. Dialogue is the only way forward,” he urged while speaking on a private TV channel.
Murad Ali Shah reminded viewers that even during a past caretaker government, a certificate from IRSA (Indus River System Authority) had been obtained. “We must avoid repeating mistakes where interim setups make decisions that trigger endless disputes,” he said. He also urged the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to think carefully. “I believe they would not want such a scenario either,” he added.
Meanwhile, senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and Sindh Minister Nasir Hussain Shah also voiced strong reservations about the Sindh Canals Project. Talking to the media, Nasir said that the PPP would not hesitate to exit the federal coalition if needed. “It would only take two minutes for us to walk away,” he warned. “Had the PPP not stood with PML-N, the elections would have been delayed by nine years,” he remarked.
Nasir Hussain Shah harshly criticized plans to extract more water from the Indus River, stating that it would severely damage Sindh’s water rights. He acknowledged that some statements from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Ishaq Dar, and Rana Sanaullah sounded positive. However, he pointed out that comments from other PML-N leaders had “rubbed salt into wounds.”
“We still hope that the Prime Minister will make a favorable decision on the Sindh Canals Project,” he said. However, since there has been no direct communication, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto has decided to bring the issue to the public through rallies and mass campaigns.
On the federal side, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry also weighed in on the controversy. He stressed that the Sindh Canals Project was more of a political dispute than a technical matter. “The government will not impose its decisions on any province regarding the canals or even the Mines and Minerals Bill,” he assured.
Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry underlined that the distribution of resources in Pakistan must follow existing agreements, laws, and the Constitution. “This issue is not about redrawing provincial boundaries. Discussions will stay within the legal frameworks,” he concluded.
The debate around the Sindh Canals Project continues to heat up, with tensions rising between coalition partners and federal leadership.
