Jamshoro [Pakistan], March 6: The Chairman of the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement (JSFM), Sohail Abro, has strongly condemned the violent crackdown on Sindh University students who were protesting the construction of illegal canals on the Indus River. The protest, held in Jamshoro on Tuesday, was met with excessive force by Pakistani authorities, including baton charges, shelling, and open firing on the students.
Abro described the actions of the Pakistani security forces as a blatant violation of human rights, emphasizing that the students’ right to peacefully protest is an essential democratic right. Speaking to Voice of Sindh News, Abro stated, “We strongly condemn the violations against the students of Sindh University during their peaceful protest. The state’s violent treatment of the students is not only an attack on them but on the entire Sindhi community.”
The protest was organized in response to controversial water canal projects intended to divert water from the Indus River to irrigate lands in Punjab. Abro stressed that the water from the Indus River is crucial for the survival of Sindh, calling these projects a direct threat to the region’s existence. “The water of Sindh is our lifeline, and we will continue to fight against these illegal canals,” he asserted.
Reports indicate that the police’s brutal response to the protest, which included baton-charging, tear gas shelling, and the use of live ammunition, resulted in numerous injuries and arrests. Despite the violence, Abro assured that the determination of the students would not be shaken. “The jail tortures and FIRs cannot weaken the resolve of the students,” he added.
Abro also called for international human rights organizations, including the United Nations, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, to take immediate action against Pakistan’s state-sponsored oppression. “We stand in solidarity with the students and urge global organizations to hold Pakistan accountable for these human rights violations,” he concluded.
The JSFM reiterated its commitment to supporting the Sindhi students, highlighting their crucial role in the national movement. The organization pledged to provide them with complete political, moral, and practical support in their ongoing struggle.