• PPP chief slams PML-N’s ‘anti-farmer’ policies, demands controversial canal plan be scrapped
• Warns of political fallout, says PPP won’t compromise on principles
HYDERABAD: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari issued a stern warning to the federal government on Friday, threatening to pull out of the coalition if the proposed construction of new canals on the Indus River isn’t scrapped.
Speaking at a large public gathering in Hyderabad, Bilawal accused the ruling PML-N of ignoring Sindh’s concerns and pursuing “anti-farmer” policies. He criticized the federal government for denying minimum support prices to farmers, obstructing wheat procurement by provinces, and overburdening the agriculture sector with taxes.
“We don’t care for ministries — what we want is respect and justice for the people,” Bilawal said. “If the government insists on pushing forward with this project, the PPP will not stand by it.”
He claimed the canal plan threatens national unity and warned of further strain on the federation, especially in light of growing unrest in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Reaffirming PPP’s commitment to its principles, Bilawal said his party is prepared to face political consequences, recalling how PPP had long resisted pressure from authoritarian regimes.
He also responded to alleged NAB threats targeting Sindh’s Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro, saying PPP workers “won’t be intimidated.”
Bilawal celebrated PPP’s recent by-election win in Umerkot as a public rejection of the canal project and took aim at Islamabad’s political elite: “They are deaf and blind to the people’s voices.”
Drawing historical parallels, he invoked his mother Benazir Bhutto’s stand against the Kalabagh Dam, and reiterated PPP’s demand for fair water distribution among provinces.
“I’m open to working on a 50-year national development plan,” Bilawal said, “but we won’t compromise if our concerns are ignored.”
PPP Demands CCI Review, National Drought Emergency
In Islamabad, senior PPP leader Farhatullah Babar echoed Bilawal’s concerns, calling the Punjab canal initiative an attempt by elites to capture national resources.
He urged the federal government to take the issue to the Council of Common Interests (CCI) and declare a National Drought Emergency, noting Pakistan ranks among the 10 most water-stressed countries globally.
Babar questioned how water would be allocated for the six new canals planned under the federal corporate farming initiative in Punjab and demanded clarity on whether it would come from Punjab’s current water share or the Indus River.
