Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has strongly opposed the federal government’s proposed canal project, warning that his party could quit the ruling coalition if the initiative is not withdrawn.
Speaking at a press conference, Bilawal slammed the plan to divert water from the Indus River through the construction of six canals to irrigate the Cholistan Desert, a move that has sparked widespread backlash in Sindh.
“The people of Sindh have rejected the canal projects, yet those in Islamabad remain blind and deaf to our voices,” said Bilawal. “We made Shehbaz Sharif prime minister not once, but twice. And now you think you can intimidate us with threats?”
‘Prisoner No 420’ and Anti-Farmer Policies
Bilawal took a veiled swipe at a political rival, stating that “two out of the six canals were approved by Prisoner No 420.” He also accused the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of launching projects that harm farmers, calling out the recent wheat scandal that hit the agricultural sector hard.
“Every initiative backed by the ‘lion party’ is anti-farmer. They bleed the people dry without offering real solutions,” Bilawal said.
Coalition in Jeopardy
With 54 PPP seats playing a crucial role in maintaining the Shehbaz Sharif-led government, Bilawal’s threat is significant. The PML-N holds 79 seats in the 264-member assembly, and the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by Imran Khan, has 93.
“The government should not be under any illusion — I will not step back. I stand with the people,” Bilawal declared.
The canal project has not only created friction within the coalition but has also drawn criticism from Sindhi nationalist parties, who view the project as a violation of provincial rights and a threat to Sindh’s water security.
Unless the federal government withdraws the canal project, the PPP may walk away from the alliance — a move that could shake the current power structure in Islamabad.
