L ARK ANA/HYDERABAD/ BADIN: Under the banner of the `Save the Indus Movement` -intensified in recent weeks opponents of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and federal government held more rallies and demonstrations in different parts of Sindh on Saturday to force the authorities concerned to shelve the controversial six canals project as well as corporate farming and other `antiSindh`initiatives.

Awami Tehreek held a press conference in Hyderabad to reject all these projects and initiatives in unequivocal terms.

In Larkana, a rally was taken out from Shahnawaz Bhutto Memorial Library which marched through various roads raising slogans against the six canals project and corporate farming. It was organised by the Larkana chapter of the `Save the Indus Movement`.

The participants wearing black armbands and carrying placards and banners ended the rally at the Jinnah Bagh gate, where they held a sit-in.

Activists of the Sindh United Party (SUP), lawyers, law students and others joined in the rally.

Advocate Jawed Buledi, the vice president of the Larkana District Bar Association; Advocate Qadir Bakhsh Bhatti, Dr Mazhar Mughal of the SUP, Jamil Memon of the Qaumi Awami Party, Shahzeb Ali and others led the participants.

Former Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) MPA Moazzim Abbasi also joined in the rally.

Speaking to the media, the leaders said that these canalswould leave Sindh lands barren, destroy the delta and devastate the province`s economy.

Moazzim Abbasi told the media that the entire Sindh had erupted in protest against the canals project. He accused the PPP of having sold out Sindh`s water. He said Bilawal BhuttoZardari`s speech [on April 4] and the latest statement of PML-N government`s spokesman had made it clear that they had given approval for the canals project.

In Hyderabad, Awami Tehreek leaders Wasand Thari, Noor Katiyar, Qadir Ranto and others, speaking at a news conference in the local press club, vowed to `bury the canals and corporate farming projects through the ongoing peaceful struggle`.They accused the successive federal governments of looting Sindh`s water resources by building barrages and drawing new canals from the Indus every year over decades.

They condemned certain Sindh-based political leaders for `betraying their electorates`, and alleged that the PPP sold out the Indus River `in lieu of presidency`. They claimed that the PPP facilitated corporate farming and supported the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) enabling exploitation of Sindh`s lands and other resources.

They also accused PTIaffiliated former president Arif Alvi of supporting the grabbing of Sindh`s lands. They flayed that the federal PDM governmentwith the support of Bilawal and Shehbaz passed multiple bills within a single day to provide constitutional cover to all controversial initiatives, undermining of the judiciary, suppressing of freedom of expression, cracking down on journalists and other unlawful actions.

They demanded immediate abolition of SIFC, canals and corporate farming projects; and restoration of true federalism.

In Kotri, PTI workers staged a march and a demonstration in protest against the controversial canals.

Local party office-bearers, who led the protest, demanded protection of Indus and condemned diversion of its water to what they deemed as illegal canals.They said that Indus was lifeline of Sindh and they would not allow its destruction. The construction of canals on the Indus meant complete destruction of the province, they said.

They condemned the government`s disregard for public opinion and said that rulers, who claimed to be democratic, were ignoring large protests by masses.

They urged the federal government to reverse its decision on the controversial canals and said: `We stand by the people of Sindh and demand the decision to construct the canals be revoked`.

In Badin, a large number of PTI workers staged a 23-kilometre march from Khadhro town to Badin, which passed through the towns of Tando Bago and Piru Lashari before reaching its destination.

The protesters gathered outside of Aiwan-i-Sahafat and observed a sit-in. Their leaders Ghulam Rasool Memon, Arbab Rafique and others said that the federal government had endangered the very existence of Sindh through the canals project.

They said that today, people of Sindh had taken to the streets while the federal government watched as a silent spectator.

Sindh was never deprived of its water share in Indus during the PTI`s government but the incumbent federal government, in collusion with Pakistan Peoples Party, was attempting to rob the province of its share in Indus water, they said.

They said the government was conspiring to completely dry out Sindh by constructing the illegal canals. PTI would never let that happen as it stood firmly by people of Sindh on this crucial issue, they said.