Political Retaliation Alleged as Irrigation Minister Suspends Water Supply to Farmers in Dera Murad Jamali

Dera Murad Jamali: Pakistan Peoples Party’s Provincial Minister for Irrigation, Mir Muhammad Sadiq Umarani, is accused of initiating revengeful actions against the supporters, voters, farmers, and landowners of former Provincial Minister for Revenue, Mir Sikandar Khan Umarani. In a move that has raised significant concerns, water supplies to three major canals, including Jhadir, Tepl, and Nasir Shakh, have reportedly been cut off, putting millions of acres of agricultural land at risk of becoming barren.

The accusations were raised during a press conference held by Mir Ghulam Nabi Umarani, a prominent landowner and former Chairman of the Municipal Committee Dera Murad Jamali, along with other political figures such as Vice Chairman Shah Muhammad Haada Baloch and Professor Muhammad Ibrahim Abro. They alleged that the move to cut off the water supply was politically motivated, aimed at targeting the supporters of Mir Sikandar Khan Umarani.

Mir Ghulam Nabi Umarani emphasized that the affected water courses were legally approved, with all necessary documentation in place. The water courses were originally constructed with the help of China in 2000, and the irrigation system was formally approved in 1994 under the administration of Mir Hassan.

Mir Ibrahim Abro, another prominent landowner leader, questioned the legality of the water course. “If the water course was illegal, why was it redesigned?” he said, calling attention to the political vendetta allegedly behind the decision.

The farmers and landowners expressed their grievances over what they described as political victimization during the tenure of Mir Sikandar Khan Umarani, where numerous farmers were allegedly targeted with false cases. They also highlighted that the recent actions were carried out during the high court’s one-month recess to prevent farmers from seeking legal redress.

The farmers have now called upon the Chief Minister of Balochistan, the Chief Secretary, the Corps Commander, the IG Police, the IG FC, and other high-ranking officials to take immediate action and address the issue. The affected parties are particularly outraged by the suspension of water supply to the **land of the late Mir Dawood Khan Umarani, who was once a prominent leader and former President of the People’s Party, Naseerabad, before siding with Mir Sadiq Umarani.

As per the farmers’ claims, Mir Sadiq Umarani is reportedly targeting farmers and landowners as part of a political revenge strategy, significantly disrupting their livelihoods. If their issues are not resolved promptly, the landowners and farmers have warned that they will take large-scale protests to highlight their plight.

The farmers’ plea is clear: if their land and water rights are not restored, they will be left with no choice but to escalate their protests, which they believe could disrupt the peaceful nature of the region. They have warned that such actions could have serious consequences for both the local community and the political atmosphere in the area.