Sindh’s senior minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Tuesday called Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to limit their ministers from issuing ‘provocative statements’ warning that escalating tensions over disputed canned projects could destabilize interest.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Karachi along with Senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders Nasir Hussain Shah and Aijaz Damrah, expressed Sharjeel Memon concern about what he described as irresponsible remarks by some PML-N minister. “If this approach continues, we may not be able to prevent our own spokespersons from responding kindly,” the minister warned.
He repeated PPP’s firm and long -standing opposition to the construction of controversial channel projects and argued that they undermine Sindh’s wandering rights.
SHARJEEL MEMON said the party has documented evidence of Sindh’s consistent resistance since the project’s approval of federal water regulators under the caretaker government.
“We have official items that prove that the Sindh Chief Minister opposed all phases,” he claimed.
According to SHARJEEL, SINDH’s representatives issued Dissens as the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) issued certificates without construction under the caretaker setup, enabling the controversial projects to move forward. “Even then we made our position ready,” he said.
He revealed that federal minister Rana Sanaullah had contacted him twice in recent days and that Shehbaz Sharif had expressed interest in finding a decision.
“The Prime Minister is the leader of the whole country, not just a province. He should take these valid concerns and remove the reservations of the people,” the minister added.
While defending the right to peaceful protest, the minister called on protesters to avoid blocking roads and disrupting financial activities.
“Cattle trucks and export shipments are stuck. Protest is a constitutional right, but public disadvantage must be avoided,” he said.
The Minister also drawn attention to the wider water sharing question and claimed that Sindh did not receive its reasonable proportion of water during the 1991 water decision.
He demanded that the federal government fulfill its legal and constitutional obligations to ensure a fair distribution.
SHARJEEL criticized some PML-N ministers for adopting a confrontational tone and noticing them as “non-political” elements that create unnecessary tensions.
“Sensible political leaders disappear situations – they don’t inflam them,” he said.
He ended up offering Sanaullah’s recent outreach, but warned that continued provocation would leave PPP without any choice other than responding through his own political channels.
The growing series comes in the midst of wider tensions between the PPP-led SINDH government and the PML-N-dominated federal administration over the resource department, governance and provincial rights.
