"Allowing the construction of six canals would come at the cost of our lives, and after we're dead, our bodies should be sent to Islamabad," said Junior Zulfikar Ali Bhutto while meeting with Sindh University students in Jamshoro. The students had taken part in a protest a few days earlier and faced police brutality.
He emphasised that when it comes to the issue of the Indus River, they all stand united. He added that the police were merely following the instructions of their superiors out of fear.
Discussing the legacy of the Indus River, he stated, "The River Indus is like a single body, and if one part is affected, the pain circulates throughout. The pain inflicted by the six canals will spread to other parts of the province, and one day, it will also reach Islamabad."
"There cannot be a second opinion on the issue of the Indus River," he asserted, warning that the scheme would devastate Sindh's biodiversity. Criticising the police officials who assaulted the students, he remarked that they failed to realise the students were protesting for their legitimate rights.
He warned that all those supporting the scheme would ultimately suffer. "Let the Indus River live, let all of us live," Bhutto urged.
When asked about his political ambitions, he responded that he had always been engaged in politics and would continue solely for the rights of the people. He accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of selling Sindh's resources and suggested that both the federal government and the Punjab government were also responsible for initiating the controversial six-canals project.
Bhutto was accompanied by local PPP-SB leadership and a large number of party workers. Students welcomed him warmly, showering him with rose petals and presenting him with traditional Sindhi Ajraks.