ISLAMABAD: Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar has declined to set a date for the Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting, which was proposed to address the ongoing water-sharing disputes between provinces.
The issue of proposed canals on the Indus River resurfaced in the Senate on Monday, with PPP members calling for a CCI meeting. The CCI, which includes all four provincial chief ministers, is tasked with addressing such matters.
Meanwhile, the opposition party PTI staged a walkout, protesting amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (PECA). Journalists also walked out of the media gallery in response to the proposed changes, which are expected to be passed in the Senate after approval from the standing committee.
Law Minister Tarar criticized the opposition for disrupting Senate proceedings and argued that their protest was unfounded, as the bill was not scheduled for passage that day. He also pointed out that the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, which approved the bill, was led by a PTI lawmaker.
ANP Senator Umar Farooq, who presented the committee’s report, voiced concerns about the bill, claiming it infringed upon freedom of speech. He also criticized the rushed nature of the amendments, aligning with his party’s stance against them.
Water Dispute and CCI Delays
The Senate again addressed the contentious issue of proposed canals on the Indus River in Punjab, intended to divert water for corporate farming in Cholistan. Law Minister Tarar assured the Senate that top leaders from PPP and PML-N had already discussed the project, and any decision would be made in accordance with the 1991 water distribution agreement.
He also assured PPP senators that no decisions would be made hastily without consulting Sindh and its people. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to Tarar, is committed to involving all coalition partners in the process.
PPP Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro expressed frustration that the CCI had not convened to address the matter, adding that protests in Sindh were escalating due to water shortages and the controversial canal project. He questioned when the CCI would meet to discuss the issue.
In response, Tarar stated that logistical issues, including the availability of all four provincial chief ministers, were preventing the meeting from being scheduled. He confirmed that the CCI would meet eventually but did not commit to a date.
Opposition to Canal Project
Senator Ghumro criticized the government’s claim that the proposed canals would not affect provinces’ existing water shares. He argued that political parties had opposed the Kalabagh Dam for similar reasons, and even Punjab’s Planning and Development Department had raised concerns about the canal project.
PPP Senator Bilal Ahmad Mandokhail warned that the situation could become another “Kalabagh Dam-like” issue. He argued that diverting water for corporate farming would harm farmers in both Punjab and other provinces. If the water meant for Punjab’s farmers were redirected, it would lead to “economic murder” for the province, he claimed.
Senator Palwasha Khan also pointed out that both Sindh and Punjab would suffer if the project moved forward. She emphasized that water should be distributed equitably across provinces, with surplus water from Punjab directed to Sindh and Balochistan.
