The ongoing dispute over water distribution in the Senate has intensified tensions between the government and coalition partner Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), fueled further by controversial remarks by minister Aleem Khan about past infrastructure failures.

The debate took place during a session on Tuesday chaired by Deputy Speaker of the Senate, Syed Ali Khan; where the OPP leaders challenged the government’s figures for water distribution, claiming they were at odds with the reality on the ground.

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman accused the government of building new canals on the Indus River, which she claimed would deprive Sindh province of its fair share of water.

In response, Senator Irfan Siddiqui of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) rejected the objections as baseless and claimed that the water distribution was in accordance with the established formula.

Minister of Water Resources Khawaja Muddasir Malik presented the government’s official figures for water allocation and stressed that no one’s share was reduced, arguing that any new canals were part of the allocated share.

Rehman, representing the PPP, moved an adjournment motion accusing the government of withholding water from Sindh, especially in light of the government’s plans to alter water flows in the Cholistani desert to bring more arable land under cultivation.

Highlighting protests across Sindh, she pointed out that despite the 25-year water shortage reports from the Indus River System Authority (IRSA), both Balochistan and Sindh had expressed concern over the situation as she highlighted the challenges facing Karachi for where the inhabitants are. struggling to access even basic water supplies.

She also mentioned that no meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) had been held for the last 11 months, calling for regular CCI meetings every three months. She called on the government to clarify its position on the water issue.

Siddiqui responded by asserting that the water distribution formula was being followed and that any objections to canal construction were baseless.

In the session, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Shibli Faraz expressed support for the PPP’s stand and criticized the lack of CCI meetings on such pressing issues.

Meanwhile, PPP senators raised concern over the declining frequency of PIA flights to southern Punjab and the closure of airports, highlighting that 20 PIA employees had flown free on a flight to Paris. The issue triggered an inquiry which was accepted by the Law Minister.

Following a request by PPP members to refer the water distribution issue to a committee, Deputy Speaker Syed Ali Khan rejected the proposal, stating that the minister had already responded after a two-and-a-half-hour discussion.

Protests and apologies over Aleem Khan’s remarks

The session also saw protests from PPP members following comments made by Aleem Khan regarding PPP’s role in road infrastructure projects.

Khan’s comments criticizing the previous government’s failure to implement the M-6 motorway project were met with strong opposition from PPP members.

Responding to the protests, Khan apologized and said he held all political leaders, including the PPP, PML-N and PTI, in high regard.

He reiterated that the government’s commitment to build the M-6 highway from Sukkur to Karachi was still on track, with detailed designs and cost estimates already completed.

He assured the Senate that construction would begin by 2025 and that the highway would benefit all of Pakistan, not just Sindh.

Meanwhile, PPP Senator Manzoor Ahmed took issue with Khan’s comments, pointing out that the M-6 highway had not been a priority under previous governments.

Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri also criticized Khan for his lack of awareness of regional issues in Balochistan, where daily fatalities were reported due to the absence of effective governance.