Highlights

Pakistan Peoples Party parliamentarians (PPPP) Central Spokesperson and Member of the National Assembly, Shazia Atta Marri, once again condemned the Modi government’s provocative actions under the pretext of the Pahalgam incident. She warned that India must not be mistaken into thinking its aggression will go unanswered; Pakistan is fully capable of giving a fitting response.

Addressing a press conference at the Bilawal House Media Cell, Shazia Marri endorsed Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s strong statement, calling it a true reflection of the emotions of every Pakistani. Bilawal had earlier warned the Modi government that “the River Indus belongs to us, and either our waters will flow through it — or their blood.”

Shazia Marri emphasized that Chairman Bilawal’s remarks were accurate, adding that Narendra Modi is attempting to cover up his government’s failures by exploiting the Pahalgam incident. She criticized Modi’s immediate and baseless accusations against Pakistan without any investigation and condemned the provocative announcements made thereafter.

She said Modi’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty is a cruel and condemnable move, warning that India’s reckless actions will have consequences. Marri highlighted that Pakistan is a sovereign and responsible nuclear state, and advised Modi to audit his 700,000-strong army stationed in Occupied Kashmir rather than leveling baseless accusations against Pakistan.

Marri further stated that Pakistan has itself suffered greatly from terrorism, losing over 90,000 lives — including police personnel, security forces, and civilians — in the fight against terror.

She also criticized the Indian media for acting as a propaganda tool for the Modi government rather than practicing responsible journalism during their coverage of the Pahalgam incident.

Speaking further, the PPP Spokesperson referred to Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s address at a public rally in Sukkur, where he questioned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif about his controversial discussions regarding canal projects. She stressed that any decision on such projects must be taken with mutual consent in the Council of Common Interests (CCI) meetings, as required by the Constitution.

Shazia Marri pointed out that while the Constitution mandates the CCI to meet every 90 days, the current government, like the previous one, has failed to convene these meetings. She reaffirmed the PPP’s commitment to the Constitution and the party’s consistent stance against controversial canal projects.

Marri concluded by saying that the PPP respects all voices protesting on the canal issue and believes that every concern raised is worthy of attention and respect.

Islamabad, April 25, 2025: The Secretary General Pakistan Peoples Party, Humayun Khan, held an introductory meeting with the Party beat reporters in Islamabad. The PPP’s Secretariat In-charge, Sabtul Haider Bukhari, was also present with him during this meeting. It was held at the PPP’s Central Secretariat, where the beat reporters introduced themselves to the newly elected Secretary General PPP.

On this occasion, Humayun Khan briefed journalists about the party’s recent decisions and political activities. He highlighted the steps taken by the party to promote democratic values and for the welfare of the public. He stated that the Pakistan Peoples Party has always struggled for the rights of the people and will continue to work for their betterment.

During the meeting, journalists asked Humayun Khan various political questions, to which he responded in detail. He emphasized the importance of maintaining strong communication with party workers and the public and stated that journalism is a vital pillar of democracy and should be respected.

Afterwards, Humayun Khan, along with PPP workers, visited the location of martyrdom of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. He arrived at Liaquat Bagh, the historic site in Rawalpindi, and paid homage at the location where Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the martyr of democracy, was assassinated. On this occasion, senior party members including Hidayatullah Khan, Tariq Raheem, Ms. Shazia Batool and a large number of party workers accompanied him.

Together with the workers, Humayun Khan offered Fatiha for Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and paid tribute to her democratic struggle. He said that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto sacrificed her life for the restoration of democracy and the rights of the people in Pakistan.“We will continue her mission and strengthen the Pakistan Peoples Party through the power of the people,” he resolved. The Party workers, while remembering the sacrifice of their martyred leader, offered prayers and pledged to stand shoulder to shoulder with the party leadership.

The Ambassador of North Korea, Mr. Choe Chang Man, along with his delegation, visited the Central Secretariat of the Pakistan Peoples Party. He met with Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, Secretary General of the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, and Humayun Khan, General Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party.

The North Korean ambassador congratulated Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari on the successful conduct of intra-party elections. Mr. Choe Chang Man also congratulated Humayun Khan on being elected as Secretary General of the PPP, and congratulated Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on being elected as the Chairman. On behalf of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, he presented a commemorative souvenir and extended an invitation to participate in the Foundation Day celebrations of the Workers’ Party of Korea.

The Korean ambassador expressed that he feels at home in Pakistan and wishes for the everlasting bond between the PPP and North Korea to continue. He stated that the Pakistan Peoples Party has always supported North Korea in difficult times. As a result, the PPP holds a permanent place in the hearts of the Korean people. He added that he will continue to play his role in further strengthening the excellent and beneficial relations with Pakistan and the PPP.

Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, Secretary General of the PPP Parliamentarians, thanked the Workers’ Party of Korea through Mr. Choe Chang Man and said that North Korea has always honored them with great respect. He noted that the relations between Korea and the PPP have always been strong, and the PPP will continue working to promote mutual cooperation in the future. He praised the way the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has stood firm against imperialism and imperialistic tactics for the welfare of its country and people, calling it admirable.

He expressed confidence that not only will the two countries, but also the two parties, maintain strong relations for the well-being and prosperity of their nations and people. On this occasion, newly elected Secretary General of the PPP, Humayun Khan, also expressed gratitude to the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea and extended his best wishes for the continuation of relations between the two countries.

Also present at the meeting were in-charge of the PPP Central Secretariat, Syed Sibtul Haider Bukhari, Hidayatullah Khan and other senior party members.

Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, led a PPP delegation in a meeting with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his team in Islamabad. After the meeting, both the PPP Chairman and the Prime Minister informed the media about the decisions made.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stated that after detailed discussions between the two delegations, an important decision was reached that no canal will be constructed without total consensus among the provinces. The decisions from this meeting will be ratified in the Council of Common Interests meeting on May 2, where it will be confirmed that no canal will be constructed.

He added that three provinces had raised objections to the Kalabagh Dam, and today, a joint decision has been made that no canals will be built without mutual agreement. He also condemned India’s statements regarding the Indus Waters Treaty, asserting that Pakistan will raise the Indus issue at the public level and give a strong response to India’s decisions.

India Must End Its Hostility and Respect International Norms: Shazia Marri

Islamabad/Karachi – Central Information Secretary of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPP-P), Shazia Marri, has strongly condemned the recent Pahalgam incident and India’s aggressive response, calling it baseless and irresponsible.

“Instead of conducting a proper investigation, India has once again resorted to blaming Pakistan without any credible evidence. This reckless behavior is a hallmark of the Modi regime, which continues to fan hatred domestically and now extends the same aggression towards Pakistan,” said Marri.

She urged India to abandon its Pakistan-phobia and learn to respect international diplomatic norms. “Pakistan is a responsible and sovereign nation. We know how to respond to aggression. India’s habitual propaganda and premature accusations against Pakistan are not only misleading but a clear indication of a false flag operation.”

Highlighting the recent positive initiatives from Pakistan, Marri stated, “This very month, Pakistan welcomed over 6,700 Sikh pilgrims from India—marking the largest cross-border religious visit in over five decades. Our desire for peaceful relations is evident, but unfortunately, India’s intentions remain questionable.”

She expressed alarm over India’s decision to unilaterally suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it a blatant violation of international law. “Such treaties are not suspended even during wartime. India’s water aggression and unilateral actions threaten Pakistan’s water security and national sovereignty. We will take this issue to international forums.”

Marri called upon the global community and international media to take notice of India’s actions. “India’s construction of dams, unilateral water control, and violations of the Indus Waters Treaty must be condemned. These steps pose a serious threat to regional stability.”

Reaffirming the unity and resolve of the Pakistani nation, she added, “Every citizen of Pakistan stands united in defense of our country alongside our armed forces. The PPP Chairman is actively presenting Pakistan’s case on international platforms, exposing India’s intransigence and belligerence.”

Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed deep sorrow over the losses caused by ongoing rains in Gilgit-Baltistan and underscored the urgent need for swift and effective relief and rehabilitation efforts.

According to a press release issued by the Media Cell Bilawal House, Chairman PPP said that due to rains and landslides in Gilgit-Baltistan, the property of many citizens has been damaged. Therefore, the federal government and the government of Gilgit-Baltistan must take immediate steps for the relief and rehabilitation of the affected people. He emphasized the need to ensure the restoration of internet, mobile services, and electricity supply across Gilgit-Baltistan, including Ghizer and Ghanche districts. He also urged the authorities to take prompt action to reopen the roads blocked by landslides.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Gilgit-Baltistan, like the rest of Pakistan, is facing unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change, adding that on one hand, the rapid melting of glaciers and the bursting of glacial lakes in the northern areas pose a serious threat to local populations, while on the other hand, the southern regions of the country are experiencing severe drought.

He said that under such circumstances, the government must fulfill its responsibilities swiftly and within strict timelines to protect the people from further loss and suffering.

Vice President of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Senator Sherry Rehman, has called for an immediate meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) to address the alarming water crisis affecting three provinces, including Sindh, and to halt plans for controversial canal projects that she warned could deepen inter-provincial discord.

Speaking to the media outside Parliament House, Senator Rehman said “For the first time in a hundred years, the Indus River is facing a record decline in water flows. When the country is running dry, the government must explain where the water for these new canals will come from.”

Senator Rehman emphasized that the PPP leadership—including the Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari—has been consistently raising concerns about the construction of new canals on the Indus without consensus, calling it a matter of “life and death” for downstream communities.

“Water scarcity is not just Sindh’s problem—it is a national emergency that affects every citizen and livelihood,” she stressed. “Without water, our agriculture, livestock, and economy cannot function. We are demanding our constitutional and moral right to fair water distribution.”

Senator Rehman urged the government to move beyond temporary political settlements and address the core issue through institutional mechanisms. “The issue must be resolved in the CCI, not through backdoor negotiations. We must act now to avoid further damage to national unity.”

Senator Rehman underscored the situation in drought-hit districts like Badin, Thatta, and Sujawal, she warned of growing discontent among farmers and local communities. “If we are pushed to the wall, we will resist—peacefully, but firmly. The PPP knows how to stand its ground for the rights of the people. We only know one kind of politics. That which defends these basic rights and it is our responsibility to stand up for fundamentals like water rights.”

Senator Rehman also questioned the validity of recent IRSA reports and criticized the lack of transparency in water allocations. “No province’s share can be diverted unilaterally. That’s not cooperative federalism; that’s injustice.”

Concluding her remarks, she said: “Let’s resolve this urgently, with seriousness and dialogue—not drama. We hope that reason and the Constitution will prevail.”

President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Pope Francis and paid tribute to the late Pope’s commitment to interfaith harmony, compassion, and peaceful coexistence. The President extended his condolences on behalf of the government and the people of Pakistan to the Vatican and the entire Catholic community on the sad demise.

While paying tribute to his services, the President said that Pope Francis would be remembered for his efforts in promoting peace, social justice, inter-faith dialogue, and the well-being of the most vulnerable communities worldwide. He remarked that Pope Francis was a powerful voice for peace and justice, and his efforts to bring together communities of different faiths and promote mutual understanding would always be remembered.

The President termed the Pope’s passing as a great loss not only for Christians but for all those who valued peace and dialogue among religions. 

President Human Rights Cell, Pakistan Peoples Party, former Senator Farhatullah Babar and General Secretary Malaika Raza, held a press conference at the Central Secretariat of the PPP, Islamabad on Friday, highlighted the growing water crisis and controversial project new canals on River Indus.

Farhatullah Babar emphasized that water is a basic human right and the issue is becoming increasingly scarce due to climate change. “The River Indus is our lifeline, and without it, Pakistan cannot survive,” he said. “In the last decade, glaciers have melted 65% more than the normal and the River Indus depends on these glaciers.”

Farhatullah Babar criticized the federal government’s plan to build six new canals, questioning where the water would come from for these canals. “The 1991 water distribution agreement was made in consultation with all provinces, and we cannot violate it,” Babar said.

He pointed out that the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) lacks representation from Sindh, and the decision to build canals is not constitutional. “There is no fight between provinces over water; this is a national issue that needs to be addressed through the Council of Common Interests (CCI),” he emphasized.

Farhatullah Babar urged the government to consult farmers, declare a drought emergency and prioritize water conservation. “According to the constitution, the President cannot sign or approve any development” he stated. He said that we are not spreading provincial bias but highlighting the growing water problem that affects everyone and called for immediate action to address the crisis.

Malaika Raza while addressing the press conference criticized the federal government’s plan to build six new canals, referring to severe water shortage in the country. She warned that the proposed canals would negatively impact cities of Punjab like Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Okara, and Sheikhupura. She said that experts estimate that 14-15% of water is wasted in the canal system thus with these new canals the wastage will go up to 40%.

Ms. Raza expressed concern over the federal government’s non-serious attitude towards water shortage questioning their decision-making process. She also stated that the country is already going through chaos and PML-N should focus on real problems of the people instead of planning controversial projects. She also highlighted the water shortage in Islamabad, where many residents are struggling to get the water according to their need, yet the government remains unmoved.

“The PPP has always stood firm for the people of Pakistan, advocating for their rights and playing a key role in stabilizing the government,” Malaika Raza said. “We urge the federal government to prioritize water conservation over canal construction”, Ms. Raza concluded.

Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has taken a resolute stance, emphatically calling on the federal government to immediately abandon its controversial plan to construct six new canals on the Indus River. He warned that if the project is not abandoned, it will no longer be possible for the PPP to continue supporting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government. He said, “If I am ever forced to choose between the government and the people, I will stand with the people—every single time.”

According to a press release issued by the Media Cell Bilawal House, Chairman PPP, while addressing a grand public gathering in Sindh’s second-largest city, Hyderabad, thanked the people for their overwhelming participation. He said that the bond of trust between the PPP leadership and the people remains strong even today, rooted deeply across generations.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also expressed gratitude to the people of Umerkot for electing the PPP’s nominated candidate with a resounding victory in the recent NA-213 by-election. He said that ideally, the opposition should have respected democratic traditions by electing the widow of the late veteran politician and senior parliamentarian Nawab Yousuf Talpur unopposed, after the seat was vacated due to his demise, but they chose not to.

He furthered that the people of NA-213 defeated a coalition of 17 parties, sending a clear message that their support for the PPP remains unwavering. He pointed out that both the PML-N and PTI were allied in the NA-213 by-election, jointly contesting against the PPP with the support of other parties. “I am grateful to the people of Umerkot,” he said. “You have handed them (the opposition) such a historic defeat that they are now left with no face to show. All of them were united on one point: to defeat the PPP.”

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the struggle to ensure fair distribution of water among provinces is a legacy he has inherited. “Before me, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto also fought this battle. At that time, we were in the opposition, despite winning the elections, we were made to sit on the opposition benches,” he recalled. He said that even then, when Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto raised her voice against the controversial water project, not only in Hyderabad but also in Lahore, Multan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Quetta, PPP workers came out in large numbers in the form of caravans. Through their protests, they compelled the government to withdraw from the controversial project.

PPP Chairman said that his party does not believe in “opposition for the sake of opposition”, and it is opposing the controversial canal project because it poses a threat to the federation. “At a time when terrorist organizations are attacking Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the entire country is burning in the fire of terrorism, they have stirred a matter that risks turning brother against brother, endangering the federation, and above all, threatens our people with death by thirst,” he added. He continued, “We want the country to progress. We want the terrorists and the global powers backing them to suffer a humiliating defeat. We want development in all four provinces, a reduction in inflation, and increased employment opportunities — and we were willing to walk together on all such matters.” He further said that if Shehbaz Sharif is Prime Minister today, he owes it to the people of Sindh. He made it clear that the PPP is not interested in ministries, but it will not back down on the canal issue.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the welfare of farmers and the development of the agricultural sector have always been among the top priorities of the PPP, adding that Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto made landless peasants the owners of land, and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto stood by the farmers in every difficult time by becoming their voice. He added that during the previous presidency of Asif Ali Zardari, his policies brought prosperity to the farmers and enabled Pakistan to export wheat.

Chairman PPP strongly criticized the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and its governments, calling their policies anti-farmer and anti-agriculture. He said that the federal government has barred all four provinces from purchasing wheat from farmers and from providing them any subsidies. “Alongside this, the government has decided to impose a heavy burden of taxes on the agriculture sector — under these conditions, where will the farmers of Sindh and Punjab go?”

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that there is already a water shortage in the country, and under such circumstances, what is the logic behind the plan to construct new canals? He urged the government to halt the canal project, saying, “Let the government stop this canals plan, and we will present a 50-year roadmap for agricultural development.” He added, “Why would I not want to see progress in Tharparkar and Cholistan? But I will never compromise on the River Indus.”

He said that those who believe they can intimidate the PPP through threats are mistaken. “The PPP has never backed down. We are not out on the streets for personal or political gains, nor to free any associate from jail — we are out to save the River Indus and protect the federation.”

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the PPP has already passed a resolution in the Sindh Assembly against the controversial canal project and has raised its voice in the National Assembly. He also reminded that President Asif Ali Zardari had rejected the project during his address to the joint session of Parliament.

Chairman pointed out that when Imran Khan approved the construction of two canals in the past, the PPP had firmly opposed it as well. “We confronted that decision with full force and, backed by the power of the people, brought a vote of no confidence and sent the one who approved those canals packing,” he said, adding that the PPP resisted Imran Khan’s canal project because they believe the fair distribution of water is both a national and global responsibility.

Concluding his speech, Chairman announced that the PPP will hold a protest rally in Sukkur on April 25 against the controversial canal project. He appealed to the people to participate in large numbers and become part of the struggle to save the River Indus.