A February 2025 protest video against the construction of six new Indus canals is falsely shared as a protest demanding independence for Sindhudesh
On 09 May 2025, Mir Yar Baloch, a self-proclaimed Baloch separatist spokesperson, writer, journalist, and human rights activist, claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that Balochistan, the largest province in Pakistan, is separating from the country and becoming an independent nation. He appealed to the United Nations, India, and other countries to recognise Balochistan as an independent state. He further stated that the current Pakistani government in Balochistan would collapse and be replaced by an independent government in Balochistan. However, neither India nor the United Nations has issued any official statement recognising Balochistan as an independent country.
In this context, a video going viral on social media (here, here, and here) shows visuals of a protest and is being shared with the claim that a people’s rebellion in Pakistan is at its peak. It is alleged that following Balochistan, the demand for Sindhudesh’s independence is intensifying. Let’s verify the claim made in the post through this article.
Claim: The video shows massive protests in Pakistan with the demand for Sindhudesh independence.
Fact: The video shows a February 2025 protest against the construction of six new canals on the Indus River in Sindh. It does not show any protest demanding Sindhudesh’s independence. The protest was about water resource concerns and predates Balochistan’s May 2025 declaration. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video found several social media posts dated 23 February 2025 showing the same visuals (here, here). The caption read, “Pakistan is losing its identity! Stop constructing canals from the Indus and let the river flow freely. This is not just JSQM-A’s (Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, a political party) demand, it is the demand of the entire Sindhi nation!” This confirms that the protest did not take place after the May 2025 incidents.
Based on clues from social media posts, we used relevant keywords and found multiple reports (here, here, and here) confirming that a protest took place on 23 February 2025. The building shown in the viral video also closely resembled the one featured in these media reports. According to reports, highways in Sindh were blocked amid protests against the Indus Canal Projects. Nationalist parties across Sindh opposed the construction of six new canals on the Indus River, citing threats to the province’s water resources. Jeay Sindh Mahaz blocked the National Highway in Shaheed Benazirabad, also demanding the release of missing lawyer Aamir Ali Umrani. Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz leader Sanna Qureshi led a sit-in at Dera Mour, warning that protests would continue if their demands were not met. Protesters accused the central and provincial governments of exploiting Sindh’s resources and failing to protect its citizens. They also warned that the canal project could turn Sindh into barren land.
We also noticed that the viral video shows a banner that reads “Release Advocate Aamir Umrani.” With this, we can confirm that the video does not depict people from Pakistan’s Sindh province protesting for an independent Sindh.
It was important to note that, although past protests had included demands (here, here) for independence for ‘Sindhudesh’, this video did not show those protests. Instead, it showed a demonstration against the construction of six new canals on the Indus River in Sindh.
To sum up, a February 2025 protest video against the construction of six new Indus canals is falsely shared as a protest demanding independence for Sindhudesh.