For the third consecutive day, the Provincial Assembly of Sindh on Wednesday continued its debate on a motion seeking a discussion on the creation of new provinces and the division of Sindh, with lawmakers from both the treasury and opposition benches expressing their views at length on the highly sensitive issue.
The session chaired by PA Deputy Speaker Naveed Anthony saw passionate speeches from lawmakers, with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) members reiterating that no attempt to divide Sindh would be allowed, while opposition members said they too oppose the province’s division, but stressed the need to address public grievances and eliminate corruption.
Universities & Boards Minister Ismail Rahu said that it is unfortunate that the PA is having to discuss the division of the province. He asked how certain people have been given the courage to initiate a debate on such a sensitive issue on television.
Those calling for administrative units should first explain what they mean by the term, Rahu said. “Whatever form it takes, the division of Sindh is neither acceptable nor tolerable to us.” Sports and Agriculture Minister Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Mahar said industrialists involved in tax evasion and leaders with limited public support have been advocating the creation of new provinces.
Such demands reflect a lack of understanding of Sindh’s history and the Constitution, he added. “We are united under the leadership of [PPP] Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Whenever it comes to Sindh, every Sindhi will resist.”
Industries Minister Jam Ikramullah Dharejo accused “tanga” parties of criticising the PPP leadership, and claimed that they believe the PPP has compromised on Sindh. “The PPP can never bargain over Sindh because Sindh is indivisible,” he said, adding that Karachi is an integral part of Sindh, and nobody can separate it from the province.
Jamaat-e-Islami MPA Muhammad Farooq said if Sindh is their motherland, Karachi is also their city. He expressed concern over the “hate-filled” remarks of some treasury members. “Karachi does not merely collect taxes; it generates taxes as well,” he said, challenging those criticising the city to go to Sukkur and demonstrate how much tax they can collect there.
Farooq said the people of Karachi love both Sindh and the city, and should not have to prove their loyalty. He called for the identity of those advocating the division of Sindh to be disclosed, saying that the chief minister should focus on eliminating corruption and safeguarding people’s rights rather than merely debating the issue.
PPP MPA Heer Soho said the PA has already passed eight resolutions against the province’s division. “Those who call Sindh their mother should not talk about dividing it,” she said, adding that anyone who drinks the water of Sindh is a Sindhi.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) MPA Qurratulain said her party is advocating administrative units rather than the division of Sindh. She cited Türkiye, which has 81 provinces, and the United States, which has 50 states, arguing that Pakistan, with a population of around 250 million, needs additional administrative units to improve governance. “We are not talking about dividing Sindh.”
The PPP’s Halar Wassan said Sindh is the land of Sufis, and an integral part of his identity. He said the assembly has already passed resolutions against the division of Sindh or the separation of Karachi. “No new province will be created. Karachi is an inseparable part of Sindh.”
The MQM-P’s Jamal Ahmed said action should instead be taken against those speaking against Pakistan. When he said that resolutions passed by the assembly are of little consequence, the deputy speaker expunged the remarks from the record.
PPP MPA Sajid Jokhio said Sindh is their motherland, and every person living in the province is a Sindhi. Marvi Rashdi said the PA is defending the province, and vowed that every aspiration against Sindh would be buried.
The PPP’s Pir Mujeebul Haq said that the debate has created anxiety and anger among the people of Sindh. He said the assembly has already given its decision on the issue on several occasions, and its position remains clear.
PPP legislator Sohail Anwar Sial said the PA is the historic house whose resolution had contributed to the creation of Pakistan. He said the people of Sindh would never allow the province to be divided.
The MQM-P’s Farhan Ansari said his party has never advocated breaking up Sindh, and its members are as much Sindhi and Pakistani as the other lawmakers. However, he called for a serious discussion on why the demands for administrative units are emerging.
The PPP’s Shazia Karim said that the debate represents a historic moment, adding that people should not be misled by using the term administrative units. “Sindh is indivisible.” The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Bilal Jadoon said that there is a lack of supremacy of the Constitution and the law in the country, and stressed the need to strengthen both the federation and the provinces. The PPP’s Aasif Musa said that a clear message should be given to those advocating Sindh’s division.
In contrast, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, whose motion had triggered the debate, said that every person living in Sindh would raise their voice if the province’s division is discussed. He said he is proud of speaking Urdu but is also a son of Sindh.
PPP MPA Hina Dastagir said Sindh has embraced people from different backgrounds with love and would remain united. Imdad Patafi said the debate has exposed two contrasting positions: one side regards Sindh as its mother while the other uses the same description but advocates separating its parts.
The MQM-P’s Kiran Masood said Pakistan’s creation and Karachi’s accession to Sindh has been decisions made by their forefathers. She argued that additional administrative units are now needed and should not be sacrificed at the altar of prejudice.
The PPP’s Sardar Khan Chandio said the people of Sindh have rejected the idea of new provinces, and called for legislation against ethnic and linguistic speeches. PPP lawmaker Nadir Magsi said Sindh is being targeted through a conspiracy, and warned that the millions of Sindhis would not allow the province to be divided. “Karachi is Sindh, and Sindh is Karachi.”
The PPP’s Saadia Javed said that debates on the creation of new provinces should take place in the parliament and provincial assemblies rather than television talk shows and conferences. She urged the CM to make the latest resolution on Sindh’s division the final one.
Other PPP legislators, including Sarfraz Shah, Nuzhat Pathan, Surendar Valasai, Muhammad Ali Malkani, Yasmeen Shah, Zia Abbas Shah, Ali Hassan Hanguro and Malieha Manzoor, also opposed any move to divide Sindh, and called for unity.
MQM-P lawmakers Rana Shaukat, Rashid Khan and Abdullah Sheikh, meanwhile, reiterated that their party does not seek the division of Sindh, but maintained that administrative reforms are necessary.
