HYDERABAD: Syed Zain Shah, president of the Sindh United Party (SUP), on Thursday rejected the proposed 27th constitutional amendment calling it a conspiracy to divide Sindh, seize the province’s resources and destroy the judicial system.
Speaking at a joint press briefing after a meeting of various political parties that was hosted by the SUP at GM Syed Edifice in Jamshoro, he said the party would oppose the amendment in all possible forms.
The meeting brought together representatives from a range of provincial groups, including Jeay Sindh Mahaz’s Riaz Chandio, JSQM Shaheed Bashir Khan’s Niaz Kallani, Jeay Sindh National Party’s Nawaz Khan Zainoor, Porhait Mazahimat Tehreek’s Syed Masroor Shah, Awami Democratic Party’s Noor Nabi Rahujo, JSQM’s Deedar Sham, Sindh National Forum’s Dr Badr Channa, Quomi Awami Tehreek’s Altaf, National Party Sindh’s Taj Mari, Allama Ayaz Qaimi, Mushtaq Mirani and others.
The participants agreed that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was responsible for threats to Sindh’s unity, resources and judicial independence. The gathering decided to reinstate the Sindh Action Committee and declare that the committee would lead the struggle to defend Sindh’s national interests.
It was announced that a leadership meeting of the Sindh Action Committee had been scheduled for November 17 and all ‘Sindh-friendly’ parties would be invited to it. The coalition also resolved to launch a campaign against the proposed amendment, beginning with coordinated protests across the province on November 11.
It was decided that demonstrations would be held in all district headquarters to highlight that the approval of the proposed amendment would mean seizure of Sindh, division of Sindh and destruction of the judicial system of the country.
Shah warned that Pakistan was a federation made up of historic federating units that the constitution protected. He argued that repeated extra-constitutional actions and amendments made for power-sharing had historically harmed the country, citing the past imposition of the One Unit scheme and the subsequent national upheaval that contributed to the country’s division.
“We will not accept any decision that attempts to grab our resources or alter our demography,” he said. The SUP president criticised what he called a pattern of forced constitutional changes in parliament and stated that projects like the Special Investment Facilitation Council had resulted in losses for Sindh.
He labelled the 26th amendment a major injustice saying that it curtailed the powers of Pemra, courts and the media, and warned that the proposed 27th amendment would be even more dangerous. He also accused parliamentarians of the PPP of betraying the 18th Amendment, which he said had still not been fully implemented.
