Karachi Bar President Attacked Amid Growing Tensions Over Controversial Canals Project
KARACHI – April 5, 2025: Karachi Bar Association (KBA) President Aamir Nawaz Warraich was physically assaulted on Tuesday in what he described as a targeted attack related to his strong stance against the controversial Cholistan canals project. Despite sustaining multiple injuries, Warraich remained defiant, vowing to continue opposing the initiative.
The attack, allegedly carried out by six unidentified individuals, occurred at a café on II Chundrigar Road, a regular meeting spot for lawyers. Warraich was later taken to Civil Hospital where medical reports confirmed multiple injuries to his face, chest, and feet.
In a video message released following the incident, Warraich accused the assailants of attempting to intimidate him due to his opposition to the six-canal project, which is part of the Green Pakistan Initiative. “This was a murder attempt, but I will not step back from the canals issue,” he declared. He further announced that a lawyers’ convention scheduled for April 12 would proceed as planned and warned that the Sindh-Punjab border could be shut down in protest if the project wasn’t rolled back within 72 hours.
Background: The Cholistan Canals Controversy
The Cholistan canals project, inaugurated on February 15 by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, aims to transform 4.8 million acres of barren land into fertile agricultural zones through the construction of six new canals — two each in Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan. Five of the canals will be linked to the Indus River and one to the Sutlej River.
While touted as a “game-changer” for Punjab’s agricultural development, the initiative has triggered serious concerns in Sindh. The Sindh Assembly unanimously passed a resolution in March opposing the project, citing fears of ecological imbalance and a reduction in the province’s water share.
The Karachi Bar Association has been one of the leading legal bodies voicing strong opposition to the plan, claiming it undermines Sindh’s constitutional water rights.
Authorities Respond as Legal Community Rallies
South DIG Syed Asad Raza confirmed that no firearms or deadly weapons were used in the altercation, describing it as a scuffle that escalated into violence. Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage and collecting witness statements to determine what exactly transpired.
KBA General Secretary Ghulam Rehman Korai and the legal fraternity have demanded swift action, with Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar ordering a full investigation. He has urged law enforcement to proceed based on evidence and to take the legal community into confidence.
Meanwhile, PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly act” and praising Warraich for his efforts in upholding the Constitution and the rule of law. “No act of violence can derail the ongoing movement against unlawful canal construction,” he stated.
As tensions rise, the Cholistan canals project continues to stir controversy, with legal, political, and civil society voices demanding greater transparency and fairness in the allocation of water resources across provinces.
