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.

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.

Speaking at the diaspora conference titled “United Voices: Kashmiri and Pakistani Diaspora Confronting Oppression in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK),” organized by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and the Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR), Vice President PPP Senator Sherry Rehman delivered a powerful message of solidarity and urgency, calling for an unflinching commitment from global communities to highlight and resist the ongoing atrocities in Kashmir.

“This is not just a regional issue. It is a crisis of global order,” said Senator Rehman, condemning the systematic erasure of Kashmiri identity through active acts of forgetting and institutional ethnic cleansing. “There is a deliberate, heinous strategy at play—a demographic invasion sanctioned by the Hindutva-driven Modi government. The revocation of Articles 370 and 35A, the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025, and settlement of non-Kashmiris are all part of this forced assimilation.”

Senator Rehman underscored the alarming scale of human rights violations in the region, she drew attention to the blinding of over 1,000 Kashmiris through pellet guns, the widowing of more than 22,000 women, and the rape or molestation of more than 11,000 women. “The Valley has been turned into the world’s largest open-air prison, under the siege of nearly 1.5 million Indian security forces,” Senator Rehman added.

Senator Rehman paid tribute to the legacy of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto for their unwavering support for the Kashmiri cause. “Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s iconic speech at the United Nations and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s commitment through commemorating February 5 as Kashmir Solidarity Day stand as defining moments in our diplomatic history. The PPP’s voice has never faltered—President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari have always raised this issue on every national and international forum,” she stated.

Calling out the global silence and selective outrage, Senator Rehman remarked, “The plight of the Kashmiris is being shoved aside on many international platforms. Powerful lobbies ensure it is kept off the agenda, while the rivers of blood in Kashmir continue to flow. Why is there such resistance to bringing their pain to the forefront?”

Senator Rehman emphasized the intersectionality of global injustices, drawing parallels between Kashmir and Gaza. “Whether it is Gaza or Kashmir, Muslims are being persecuted in ways that the world has not seen anywhere else, in violation of international laws, on genocide as well as humanitarian norms . This is a collective stain on our conscience. The rules-based order we speak of is now in disarray,becoming dangerously selective, and that too at the cost of the oppressed.”

Senator Rehman urged the diaspora to continue playing a pivotal role in advocacy. “The diaspora is our strength. They have a key role to play in keeping the story of Kashmir alive. If there is any help they need, PPP and Pakistan will always stand ready to support.”

Senator Rehman concluded with a message of unity and hope. “Today is a call to action. There are no two opinions about it—Kashmiris are our friends, our family, and we will never be separated. We want peace, always, but never at the cost of justice. The PPP stands united with Kashmir in every effort, at every forum.”

Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), Shazia Marri, strongly condemned the opening of the Taunsa-Panjnad (TP) Link Canal at a time when Sindh is grappling with a severe 62% water shortage.

In a press statement issued today, Marri questioned the rationale behind opening the canal, stating, “At a time when Sindh is facing a devastating 62% water shortage, why is the Taunsa Panjnad canal opened?”

She emphasized that link canals like the TP Link were never meant to remain operational year-round. “The link canals were never supposed to be perennial. They could only be opened during the flood season,” she asserted.

Marri warned that opening the canal during a period of acute shortage would further deprive the lower riparian regions of their share and exacerbate the already dire situation. “Opening of the TP Link Canal during a shortage period will further increase the water shortage for the lower riparians and cause more harm,” she said.

Reiterating the PPP’s longstanding position, Marri stated, “PPP has always advocated for a fair and just distribution of water resources among the provinces.” She added that the party has consistently demanded implementation of the 1991 Water Accord and urged IRSA to fulfill its responsibilities accordingly.

“The Sindh Irrigation Department has rightly lodged a strong protest with IRSA over the untimely opening of the TP Link Canal,” she noted.

Calling any diversion of water under the guise of “technical necessity” as unacceptable, Marri said, “Any diversion of water, when one province is suffering such acute shortages, is both unjust and irresponsible.”

“Water is not a political tool—it is a constitutional right,” she stressed, adding that water issues must not be exploited for political point-scoring. “It’s a matter of life and death for us.”

Highlighting the broader impact, she stated, “The lifeline of Sindh’s agriculture, economy, and communities is under threat.”

Marri also criticized the federal government’s silence on the issue, saying, “The Federal Government cannot remain silent to the miseries of people living in federating units.”

“We demand immediate closure of the TP Link Canal and call upon IRSA and the federal government to intervene and ensure compliance with agreed frameworks,” she added.

“The Pakistan People’s Party stands with the people and will not allow any province’s rightful share of water to be stolen,” Marri declared.

In a final critique, she noted the government’s constitutional failure, saying, “Despite its constitutional obligation, this Government has miserably failed to convene a single CCI meeting so far.”

Adding further context, Marri said, “The Pakistan People’s Party has been continuously opposing construction of new canals on River Indus.” She questioned the logic behind such projects during an active water crisis: “When there’s no water in the system and when people are already facing severe water shortage, how would new canals be made?”

Marri concluded by vowing to raise the issue at every relevant forum. “We will raise this issue in Parliament, in IRSA, and in every relevant forum to safeguard Sindh’s water rights and uphold the federation’s integrity,” she affirmed.

The Intra-party elections of Pakistan Peoples Party were held at the Central Secretariat PPP, Islamabad on April 12, 2025.

The outcome of the elections have been notified and issued by Ms. Fauzia Habib, The Central Election Convener of the PPP.

According to the notification, the following have been elected for a term of four years:-

            Bilawal Bhutto Zardari – Chairman

            Humayun Khan – Secretary General

            Nadeem Afzal Gondal (Chan) – Secretary Information

            Amna Piracha – Secretary Finance

The Pakistan Peoples Party strongly condemns the dual policies of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. On one hand, PTI advocates for provincial autonomy against the federal government, while on the other hand, their cabinet is approving the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mines and Minerals Bill 2025, which seeks to place the province’s mineral resources and assets under federal control. This clear contradiction is unacceptable to the Pakistan Peoples Party.

Various provisions of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mines and Minerals Bill 2025 severely undermine the province’s autonomy, which is against the principles of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan, aimed at granting full autonomy to the provinces.

The Pakistan Peoples Party firmly opposes this bill and believes that the autonomy of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa must be protected at all costs. The party leadership has convened a high-level meeting on Monday and Tuesday to devise further strategies against this bill. Additionally, the Pakistan Peoples Party will raise this issue in the provincial assembly and hold protests.

The Pakistan Peoples Party is fully committed to defending the rights and autonomy of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is prepared to make any sacrifices necessary. We demand that the PTI government sever its unconstitutional ties with the federal government and protect the rights of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Syed Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha
Provincial President, Pakistan Peoples Party Khyber Pakhtunkhwa