Fact Check: Pakistan citizens march for independent ‘Sindhudesh’? No, video shows protest against new Indus canals
On May 8, Baloch leader Mir Yar Baloch claimed Balochistan’s independence from Pakistan, citing decades of oppression. He urged the UN for recognition and requested India to permit a Baloch embassy in Delhi.
In the above context, a video is going viral, in which some people are seen protesting and carrying a red flag.
The video is shared with a caption claiming that the video is of people from Pakistan demanding a separate nation called Sindhudesh.
A social media user shared the video with a caption, “Tera desh, Mera Desh, #Sindhudesh, #Sindhudesh But #Sindhudesh Officially should be part of #Bharat throwing out #islamic #Muslim population. Anyways at the movement lets support them #SindhudeshIsNotPakistan #punjabi #Pakistan has no #rights in #Sindhudesh Free #Sindhudesh”
Fact Check
SouthCheck found that the claim is false. The video shows a protest against the construction of new Indus canals.
On a Google reverse image search, we found that the same video was shared by an X account on February 23. The video was shared with a caption that reads, “Pakistan is losing its identity! Stop constructing canals from the Indus and let the river flow freely. This is not only just JSQM-A’s demand, it is the demand of the entire Sindhi nation! #NoMoreCanalsOnIndus (sic)”
In the same video, at around 48 seconds, we can see that people are carrying a banner that reads, ‘Release Advocate Amir Umrani.’
Taking a hint, we searched with relevant keywords and found a report published by Business Recorder pm April 23. The report stated that protests have erupted across Sindh, Pakistan, against the federal government’s plan to construct six new canals from the Indus River. Led by lawyers, civil society activists and nationalist groups, demonstrators have blocked major highways, including the National Highway, causing significant disruptions to transportation and economic activities.
The protests, which have entered their 10th day, have stranded thousands of vehicles, halted the movement of essential goods, and led to shortages of fuel and food supplies. Despite assurances from Pakistan's prime minister Shehbaz Sharif that no canal will be built without consensus through the Council of Common Interests (CCI), protesters demand a formal notification cancelling the project. The unrest has also seen violent incidents, including clashes with police and the torching of the Sindh home minister’s residence.
Another report by The Tribune, published on February 24, stated that nationalist parties staged widespread protests and blocked highways across the province to oppose the construction of six new canals on the Indus River. The Jeay Sindh Mahaz also blocked the National Highway in Shaheed Benazirabad district, demanding the safe return of lawyer Aamir Ali Umrani, who has allegedly been forcibly disappeared.
We also found an image, shared in the report, where people are seen carrying the same red flag as seen in the viral video.
Therefore, we can conclude that the viral claim is false.
