On Sindh’s request, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has called an urgent meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) today, which was initially scheduled for May 2, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.
PM Shehbaz will chair a crucial meeting of the CCI today at 7 PM at the Prime Minister’s House, with 25 key participants specially invited, including the chief ministers of all four provinces and federal ministers.
This development was confirmed by Senior Sindh Minister for Information, Transport, and Mass Transit Sharjeel Memon, who said that the CCI meeting would now take place this evening in Islamabad under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister.
Sharjeel Memon stated that the CCI meeting would resolve the issue concerning the construction of canals, and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah would represent the province at the meeting.
He added that the decision will be finalised in accordance with the discussions held between PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, putting an end to the canal dispute.
Special plane reaches Karachi; Bilawal likely to join meeting
According to sources, there is a strong possibility that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will also travel to Islamabad to participate in the CCI session.
A special aircraft has already landed in Karachi to facilitate his and the Sindh delegation’s emergency travel to the capital.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Provincial Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Sindh Chief Secretary, Secretary Irrigation, and other important officials are expected to depart for Islamabad via this special flight.
As per the channel report, the Sindh government will present its stance firmly on the matter of six canal projects. Both the federal and Sindh governments are expected to jointly propose the cancellation of controversial canal projects during the CCI meeting.
It is pertinent to mention here that three days ago, on April 25, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had said that PPP and the ruling PML-N had agreed that no new canals would be constructed without the will of the people of Sindh.
Speaking at a public rally in Sukkur, Bilawal emphasised that no projects would be undertaken on the Indus River without the mutual consent of all stakeholders, and any controversial projects would be scrapped.
Bilawal Bhutto had also thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for addressing Sindh’s concerns, stating, "We promised to protect Sindh, and we have protected Sindh."
Bilawal strongly criticised India for its actions on the Indus River, sending a clear message that "Sindhu is ours and will remain ours," while asserting that the Pakistan Army would respond robustly to any aggression from across the border.
Reporters: Aajiz Jamali and Awais Kiyani