1 day Ago By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Tuesday welcomed the decision of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) to suspend all new canal projects from the Indus River until a national consensus is achieved and to establish a committee for devising a long-term water and agriculture policy. The PPP credited party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for championing Sindh’s water rights and ensuring the resolution through democratic and constitutional means. Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, senior PPP leader Shazia Marri said the party had opposed the canal projects from the outset.
“Bilawal Bhutto raised his voice against these unfair initiatives. Although we are part of the government, we are not in the cabinet and had no role in pushing these projects forward,” she said. Shazia Marri criticised the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) for issuing what she described as a misleading letter and pointed to the federal government’s delay in convening the CCI meeting.
She acknowledged the role of Sindh’s chief minister in engaging stakeholders and thanked Bilawal for his leadership. KP CM discusses proposed projects for inclusion in ADP She also appreciated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for honouring his commitment to resolve the dispute. “Addressing this issue earlier could have avoided the controversy,” she added.
PPP vice president Senator Sherry Rehman also lauded the CCI’s unanimous decision. She credited Bilawal for upholding the Constitution, the 1991 Water Accord, and the rights of farmers. “The move to halt canal construction without consensus, and to form a committee with provincial representation, strengthens democratic values,” she said, adding that Bilawal’s stance ensured the CCI meeting took place, where dialogue prevailed over unilateralism.
Sherry Rehman also commended the prime minister for building consensus on national water and security issues. “This shows Pakistan’s strength lies in unity and federal cooperation,” she said. Committee reviews legal, administrative reforms PPP former secretary general Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari called the CCI meeting a win for constitutional supremacy.
“This was a key PPP demand. Bilawal had a detailed discussion with the prime minister, which led to scrapping the canal plan,” he said. He added that the IRSA certificate backing the project had been cancelled, and the ECNEC decision set aside.
“This proves political issues can be solved when leadership works together in the national interest,” he further added. Tags: ppp welcomes cci.
