Sindh opposing Cholistan Canal’s construction at every govt forum: CM

Sindh’s chief minister on Monday said his government is strongly opposed to the construction of the Cholistan Canal, and is currently contesting this issue before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).

Replying to a question while talking to the media after launching a polio eradication campaign at the SMB Fatima Jinnah School in Garden West, CM Syed Murad Ali Shah said the Indus River System Authority had certified to provide water to the Cholistan Canal if commissioned.

“On September 20, Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro had attended a Central Development Working Party [CDWP] meeting and opposed the approval of the canal.” Shah provided additional details about a recent meeting of the CDWP that was originally scheduled for October 11 at 9am but did not take place as planned.

“Before the meeting I spoke with Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal and informed him that the Sindh government would never accept the Cholistan Canal.” He mentioned that he was assured by the federal minister that the agenda for the Cholistan Canal would be postponed, but the October 11 meeting was delayed and ultimately held at 11pm.

The CM said the Cholistan Canal project was approved in the meeting despite strong opposition from Sindh’s representative, adding that he has also written to the chairman of planning to express his opposition to the project.

He said Ecnec is the final forum where Sindh would contest its case, adding that the provincial government has already challenged the canal before the Council of Common Interests (CCI). “The Pakistan Peoples Party’s [PPP] government knows how to protect the rights of the people of Sindh.”

Responding to a query about the increasing number of polio cases, Shah said the caretaker government had failed to take appropriate measures to continue the polio eradication drives, so his government is facing the consequences.

“The provision of the caretaker government’s induction for holding general elections should be deleted from the constitution because it creates a gap in the continuity of policies.” He denied having knowledge about bringing another amendment to the constitution. “Like you [media persons], I have also heard this news, and that too through the media,” he said, adding that the PPP knows how to protect the country, the constitution and its people.

He also said that there is nothing wrong with the 26th constitutional amendment, adding that the amendment was appropriate, which was why his party supported it. “The PPP will never support any amendment or policy in which the rights of the people of the country are trampled,” he stressed, pointing out that his party always upholds the people’s rights.

“Is it justifiable for a sitting prime minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, to be ousted for not writing a letter against the president of Pakistan? Is it appropriate within the constitution for another sitting prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, to be removed for not receiving a salary from his son?”

The CM said that in 2006 Benazir Bhutto had signed the Charter of Democracy Sharif, which included the establishment of constitutional courts. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has realised Benazir’s vision through the 26th amendment.