Shehbaz, Bilawal ‘set for key meeting’ amid canal dispute
Sources say progress likely on stalled canal project.
Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah will accompany Bilawal.
PPP leaders will convey Sindh’s concerns to PM.
A key meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is expected to take place this evening (Thursday), amid rising political tension and growing unrest across Sindh over the federal government’s controversial canal development plans.
According to sources, Bilawal will arrive in Islamabad today and is scheduled to meet with the prime minister later in the evening. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah will accompany him.
The two PPP leaders are expected to communicate the deep-seated concerns of the people of Sindh regarding the construction of six new canals along the Indus River.
The sources close to the development indicate that positive progress may emerge from the meeting, particularly after weeks of protests and heated parliamentary debates surrounding the project.
The background to the meeting is marked by widespread political fallout and street demonstrations. On Tuesday, the Senate was thrown into uproar as PPP lawmakers staged a walkout while PTI senators clashed with both PML-N and PPP over competing resolutions on the canal project.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar attempted to cool tempers by assuring that any decision would be made constitutionally and in consultation with the Sindh government.
Special Assistant to PM on political affairs Rana Sanaullah was also tasked with initiating direct contact with Sindh’s political leadership. He assured stakeholders that nothing would be “bulldozed” and even suggested multi-party consultations.
The protests, which have spread to Sukkur, Nawabshah and Daharki, continue to disrupt transport and trade, with local parties and civil society expressing strong resistance. CM Murad recently reiterated PPP’s firm stance, warning that while the party does not seek to bring down the federal government, it holds the power to do so.
He further revealed that the Rs250 billion project remains on hold, as it has yet to be approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).
Bilawal last week warned that his party could exit the ruling coalition if the matter is not resolved to Sindh’s satisfaction.
In February this year, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz launched the Green Pakistan Initiative in Cholistan aimed at revolutionising agriculture and providing farmers with agricultural facilities under one roof.
The project triggered a wave of unrest across Sindh, and the provincial assembly in March unanimously passed a resolution against the construction of six new canals on the Indus River.
Meanwhile, the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and other nationalist parties took to the streets and staged massive rallies in different cities of the province, including Karachi.