Fresh unrest has swept across Pakistan’s Sindh province as violent protests broke out on May 19 against the controversial $3.3 billion Indus canal project, backed by the Pakistan Army. Two people were reportedly killed, including a member of the Sindhi nationalist party JSMM, after police opened fire during the demonstrations in Naushahro Feroze district.
Protesters accused the Punjab-dominated establishment of exploiting Sindh’s water resources through the canal scheme. Despite earlier claims by Islamabad that the project had been shelved in April, locals alleged secret construction activities continued, fueling tensions.
Chaos on the Streets: Northern Sindh Turns Into Battlefield
Violence peaked after Zahid Laghari, a JSMM activist, was fatally shot by police. Protesters torched oil tankers, vandalized public property, and even stormed the house of Sindh Interior Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, setting parts of it on fire.
At least 15 people were injured, including several policemen, during intense confrontations in Moro town. Additional police forces were rushed in from neighboring districts to control the deteriorating law and order situation.
What Sparked the Outrage?
The protests were triggered by the Green Pakistan Initiative, launched in February 2025 by Army Chief Asim Munir and Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz, aimed at irrigating barren lands. But Sindhi activists saw it as a land and water grab by Punjab, ignoring Sindh’s already severe water crisis.
Protesters and civil society groups fear that the project will rob Sindh of its rightful share of Indus River waters, vital to the province’s agriculture, economy, and identity.
Political Backlash: PPP and Bilawal Under Fire
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the PPP leader and son of Pakistan’s president, faced harsh criticism for initially backing the army-led canal project. Though he later backtracked and blamed the federal government, Sindhi nationalist leaders accused him of playing both sides to retain power.
Shafi Burfat, JSMM’s chairperson, branded Bilawal as “immature, power-hungry, and a pawn of the Punjabi military elite,” alleging the PPP was complicit in ignoring Sindh’s demands.
Water Crisis, Political Fault Lines, and National Tensions
The canal protests have further widened the rift between Sindh and Punjab, reawakening long-standing grievances over resource allocation and regional autonomy. With India suspending the Indus Waters Treaty following the Pahalgam terror attack, fears of further water scarcity are intensifying among Sindh’s residents.
Despite temporary suspension announcements, the protesters demand a permanent cancellation of the canal project, claiming the military’s actions have eroded public trust.
As protests continue to rage and civil unrest deepens, Pakistan’s federal unity is under increasing strain, highlighting unresolved issues of resource justice, regional equity, and civil-military balance.
