By Staff Reporter
HYDERABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday threatened to withdraw his party’s support from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s ruling coalition if the government proceeds with contentious plans to build new canals on the Indus River, escalating a feud that risks fracturing an already fragile alliance and deepening provincial discord.
Speaking at a rally late Friday in Hyderabad’s Hatri Bypass Ground, Bhutto-Zardari accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government of ignoring Sindh’s objections to the projects, which his party claims would divert water from the province, jeopardising agriculture and inflaming grievances in a region pivotal to national stability.
“The federal government must immediately roll back this controversial canal project; otherwise, the PPP cannot work with you,” Bhutto-Zardari declared, directly addressing PML-N leaders. “If the choice is between Shehbaz Sharif and the people, the decision is not difficult.”
The warning intensifies pressure on Sharif’s government, which relies on the PPP’s support to pass critical legislation, including the upcoming federal budget. Bhutto-Zardari, whose party governs Sindh, accused Islamabad of ignoring provincial autonomy and pursuing policies that “endanger the integrity of the federation” amid surging insurgent violence in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“Those sitting in Islamabad are blind and deaf, unwilling to see or hear the provinces,” he said, linking the water dispute to broader unrest. “With terrorists attacking security forces, this is not the time to weaken national unity.”
The canals, proposed under the government’s development agenda, have sparked accusations from Sindh that Punjab—PML-N’s political heartland—seeks to monopolise water resources. The Indus, Pakistan’s largest river, is governed by a 1960 treaty that allocates shares among provinces, but disputes over distribution have long fuelled inter-provincial strife.
“I thought Shahbaz Sharif would stay away from the project after seeing such a reaction, because he understands that without PPP support, he can’t run assembly sessions or pass the budget. But it seems he is not ready to shelve the project. If that is the case, then we are not ready to give up either,” Bhutto-Zardari said.
“What’s the reason behind your stubbornness. We want Pakistan to develop, and the federation is strengthened, but we cannot back off from our principles.”
Bhutto-Zardari, heir to a political dynasty that has dominated Sindh for decades, framed the dispute as emblematic of federal neglect toward farmers, accusing the government of withholding crop support prices, blocking provincial wheat procurement, and imposing taxes amid soaring fertiliser and fuel costs.
“The Sher (lion) preys on people’s blood,” he said, referencing PML-N’s election symbol. “These policies are anti-farmer and anti-Sindh.”
He dismissed threats by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to investigate Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro over the dispute as intimidation. “Do you think NAB’s threats scare him? PPP jiyalas cannot be cowed.”
Invoking the PPP’s history of resisting military regimes, Bhutto-Zardari vowed to prioritise principles over power, stating, “We couldn’t care less about ministries—we demand respect.” He offered to collaborate on a “50-year development plan” but warned of unyielding opposition if the canals proceed.
The canals issue shows the fragility of coalition politics as Sharif’s government navigates an economic crisis and resurgent militancy. The PPP’s exit could destabilise the ruling alliance, though neither side has yet shown willingness to compromise. Sindh has long accused Punjab of siphoning water through upstream projects, a charge denied by federal authorities.
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