Karachi/Nawabshah – Public anger over a controversial canal project in Pakistan’s Sindh province escalated dramatically on Friday as protestors launched an attack on the convoy of Asifa Bhutto Zardari, daughter of President Asif Ali Zardari and a sitting member of parliament. The incident, captured in a video that surfaced Saturday, has sparked serious concerns about the country’s political climate and internal security.
Asifa was traveling from Karachi to Nawabshah when demonstrators protesting the canal development and corporate farming initiatives blocked her convoy. Eyewitnesses reported that members of the crowd shouted slogans and some struck vehicles with sticks. Security personnel swiftly intervened, escorting Asifa to safety. Police officials confirmed the confrontation lasted less than a minute and no injuries were reported.
Discontent Over Canal and Land Rights
The Pakistani government’s plan to build a new canal on the Indus River has faced fierce opposition from locals. Residents fear the project could lead to large-scale land acquisitions, undermining traditional agriculture and benefiting corporate farming interests at their expense.
#BreakingNews | पाक के राष्ट्रपति की बेटी पर सिंध में हमला, आसिफा भुट्टो के काफिले पर भीड़ ने हमला किया, कराची से नवाहशाह जा रही थी आसिफा भुट्टो#PakistanNews #AseefaBhuttoZardari #AsifAliZardari pic.twitter.com/V00zQTfJHI
— India TV (@indiatvnews) May 24, 2025
Violence Spreads: Minister’s Home Torched
Tensions in the region have been escalating for days. On Tuesday, enraged protestors set fire to the residence of Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar. Security guards stationed at the property were reportedly assaulted.
The unrest took a deadly turn in Naushahro Feroze district, where clashes broke out between police forces and activists from a nationalist organization. At least two people were killed and several others injured, according to local sources.
Political Shockwaves and Security Concerns
The attack on the President’s daughter has sent shockwaves through Pakistan’s political circles. Analysts say the incident not only exposes vulnerabilities in the state’s security apparatus but also highlights the widening rift between the government and the people of Sindh.
The developments have ignited debate about the balance between infrastructure development and indigenous rights, raising urgent questions about the direction of governance and public policy in the region.
