Lawyers Call Off Sindh Sit-ins on Day Nine Following CCI Decision
However, the Baberlo Bypass sit-in continues because the lawyers are still pressing for additional demands
Lawyers in Sindh called off their province-wide sit-ins on the ninth day of protests following the Council of Common Interests’ (CCI) decision to reject the controversial new canals project from the Indus River.
The All Sindh Lawyers Action Committee announced the end of all sit-ins across the province except for the one at Baberlo Bypass in Khairpur, which will continue as some demands remain unresolved.
While the court strikes will also officially end on April 30.
The Sindh Bar Council (SBC), in a unanimous resolution, issued by Acting Secretary Rustam Bhutto, has said that lawyers’ organisations and civil society are requested to end all protests as the canals issue has been resolved politically and legally. “We appeal to all citizens and organisations to end the protests.”
Read Moew: Federal Govt Withdraws Indus Canals Plan After Unanimous CCI Decision
The CCI, Pakistan’s highest constitutional body, decided to halt the new canal project until mutual understanding among provinces was reached, effectively overturning the federal government’s plan to construct the canals without consensus. This decision was welcomed by the lawyers and seen as a victory for Sindh’s unity and resilience.
However, the Baberlo Bypass sit-in continues because the lawyers are still pressing for additional demands, including the abolition of corporate farming, the withdrawal of cases against protesting lawyers, and the return of seized vehicles. The All Sindh Lawyers Action Committee plans to meet with Sindh government representatives to discuss these demands before deciding on ending the Baberlo sit-in.
Earlier, many lawyers had rejected the CCI’s announcement as ambiguous and insufficient since it did not clearly state the permanent cancellation of the canals project. They had vowed to continue protests until a clear notification was issued. The eventual calling off of most protests came after the CCI’s firm rejection of the canals project, which satisfied the primary demand of the legal fraternity.
