Senior Sindh Minister of Information, Transport and Mass Transit, Sharjeel Inam Memon, has stated that the disputed channel question has been fully resolved and terminated by the leadership of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Express News reported.
In his statement on Sunday, Memon praised the “tireless efforts and the effective strategy” used by Bilawal, which he said had successfully resolved the channel conflict. He emphasized that the question has now been treated completely.
He also announced that the case would officially be closed after the upcoming meeting of the Council for Common Interest (CCI) on May 2nd. “This question will be permanently closed after the official CCI meeting,” he said. He also appealed to all political parties and the legal community to ensure reopening of roads affected by protests.
He emphasized urging the reopening of roads to ease the smooth flow of goods transport and prevent further financial losses. “The closure of highways has affected the public, pets, imports, exports, farmers and the poor,” Memon said, calling for steps to be taken immediately to restore traffic.
His statement comes after at least six people, including a lawyer, was wounded in Karachi’s Gullhan-in-Haded area on Sunday when police collided with members of the legal fraternity during an attempt to end their five-day sit-in against the channel project.
Earlier this week, the Government of the Canals Project, which was inaugurated in February by the Army Chief General Asim Munir and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
The decision followed months of protests, a unanimous SINDH assembly resolution that opposed the project, and growing concern over India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. The government confirmed that the work on the channels would remain on wait until a consensus has reached CCI.
Despite the government’s announcement, protests continued against the question of several cities in Sindh on Saturday along with a strike called by Jamaat-I Islami. Attorneys staged a sit-in at Babarloi in the Khairpur district, and the demonstration in Karachi’s Gullhan-I-HADED embarked on his fifth day on Sunday.
Memon also suggested that if the protests are to continue, the least that can be done is to open roads to the free movement of traffic. “It would be better if the protests have ended, but at least we have to be cleared to prevent the disruption of traffic. Protests should remain peaceful so that public life can return to normal,” he added.
The senior minister also mentioned that the Sindh government is in constant contact with the legal communities and political parties. “The Sindh government is ready for negotiations with all stakeholders,” he said, calling on political parties and lawyers to keep an eye on disruptive elements.
MEMON ended by calling for a collective, wise approach to decision making, stating, “In the current national situation, we all need to make decisions carefully and together.
