HYDERABAD, April 18: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has issued a strong ultimatum to the federal government, demanding an immediate halt to the proposed construction of six new canals on the Indus River. Addressing a massive public gathering in Hyderabad, he declared that if forced to choose between the government and the people, he would “stand with the people — every single time.”
In a powerful speech marked by defiance and resolve, Bilawal criticized the project as a threat to national unity and the livelihood of millions. “At a time when the country is grappling with terrorism and instability, provoking inter-provincial discord over water distribution is reckless and dangerous,” he said. The PPP, he affirmed, cannot support any government that compromises the rights of the provinces and endangers the federation.
Bilawal expressed gratitude to the people of Umerkot for a landslide victory in the NA-213 by-election, despite a 17-party opposition alliance. He condemned the rival parties, including the PML-N and PTI, for politicizing a seat that should have been uncontested following the death of veteran PPP leader Nawab Yousuf Talpur. “You have handed them a historic defeat,” he told the cheering crowd.
Reaffirming the party’s historic commitment to fair water distribution, Bilawal invoked the legacy of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, recalling how she mobilized the people across provinces to block similar controversial projects. He reiterated that the PPP’s stance is not political opposition for its own sake, but a principled resistance to a plan that could deprive millions of essential water resources.
“The PPP is not interested in ministries,” he said. “We will not compromise on the River Indus. We are not in this struggle for personal gains — we are here to protect the lifeline of Sindh, and the future of Pakistan.”
Criticizing federal policies as anti-farmer and anti-agriculture, Bilawal highlighted the government’s ban on provincial wheat procurement and the imposition of heavy taxes on agriculture. He warned that such measures, coupled with water scarcity, would devastate farmers across Sindh and Punjab.
Bilawal announced a major protest rally in Sukkur on April 25 and urged the people to join in large numbers to safeguard the River Indus. He offered an alternative, proposing a 50-year roadmap for agricultural development if the federal government abandons the controversial canals.
“The PPP has never bowed to pressure, and we will not now,” he concluded. “This is not just about canals — it’s about justice, unity, and survival. We will save the River Indus. We will save the federation.”
