KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Friday condemning the recent spate of wall chalking and posters seen in Karachi calling for a Muhajir province, and called on the government to expose whoever was behind it.
The Mohajir Sooba Tehreek, with no known leadership, held a protest calling for the creation of a province for Mohajirs on Tuesday at the Karachi Press Club, and has been promoting itself via graffiti on walls in Karachi and emails to media organisations.
The issue was first highlighted by Sindh Culture Minister Sassui Palijo, who was speaking on a point of order. However, a resolution on the subject had already been drafted by Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) MPA Nusrat Seher Abbasi and Palijo and other MPAs from the Pakistan Peoples Party, PML-F and the National Peoples Party signed the resolution text before it was moved in the assembly by Abbasi.
PML-Q (likeminded) MPA Abdul Razzaque Rahimoon had also spoken about the issue on Tuesday while talking to reporters outside the assembly.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPA Amir Moin Pirzada spoke about the resolution, and stated that his party condemned the graffiti and was not aware of who was behind it. But Pirzada noted that there were calls for a ‘Sindhudesh’ province as well, and that separatist groups had been responsible for damaging railway tracks in Sindh and wondered if the government should open talks with these groups and ask them why they felt this way.
This suggestion was rubbished by Palijo when she spoke to reporters after the session had ended. “These demands have not come from the indigenous people of Sindh, the people who live here. This is a historic province. We will not tolerate any conspiracy.”
Palijo told reporters that the demand had no basis, and was a conspiracy to create a “civil war” in the province. She has asked the interior ministry and the home department to look into who was responsible for the graffiti. “I want to make it clear to our brothers that Pakistan’s boundaries are sacred to us. No one is in favour of the division of Sindh, and we will not accept any wickedness.”
Two of the backers of the resolution - Palijo and PPP MPA Humera Alwani - noted that a coalition partner of the PPP had not signed the resolution, which they would have liked. When questioned, Alwani told reporters that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement had not signed the resolution and their assent to the resolution when it was put to vote was not audible.
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I am a SINDHI....... and i say NO to MUHAJIR suba !!! i respect urdu speaking people but not when they ask to destroy my province........if u want to live in karachi u have to accept us ........happy .......or go back to india (only for bad urdu speakers)
MQM is a political party with a very strong voting base in Karachi; no doubt , it has the power to hold whole of Karachi as hostage and it has a potential to destroy Karachi by simply creating law and order situation. But what about peaceful development of Karachi? MQM alone cannot guarantee it. Without other stakeholders, there could not be any peace. And if there is no peace then no jobs, no education, health facilities and no Karachi worth living particularly for poor Urdu- speaking Sindhis. Where would end the politics of Balkanization, hatred, division and further division?. India was transformed by colonial masters so was struggle of independence unjustified? No history, no culture, no rights and no human relationship, just only turf politics? Divide Sindh and then divide Karachi in many small fragments; and then seal its borders with Baluchistan and rest of Sindh, and all issues of poverty, jobs, education, health, peace and tranquility would automatically be solved!! Whose agenda is this? Surely, it does not suit to poor Urdu speaking particularly who is not fanatic and who is not supporter of MQM.
@Hameedullah
Distorting factual perspective of history !!!! I wont be astonished . As far as the phrase " you have everything in Sindh ...." who do you kidding m. ere Bhai .?
There is a Urban Rural "Unique" quota system . All govt hospitals of Karachi are infested with Quotafied doctors from Interior Sindh All Govt deaprtments of Karachi are literally occupied from Office boy to Director by people who are not even from Karachi , thanks again to the quota system 95% of the SHOs of Karaachi are from Interior Sindh who even donot understand what the local people is blabbering about .
Yes we have everything of the above but none of them belong to us .
You think you could bring harmony by imposing yourselves on us .? Nope I am afraid .Think again .
Lets correct History .
British Govt spent 250,000 pounds sterling on the development of Karachi port way back in 1867 by the late 1890's and early 1900 it was doing international trade , there were International Banks , and by 1905-10 it was one of the cities with a municipal corporation , mayor of which was elected on rotation basis from Parsis, Muslims and Hindus every year , and it was among the select few cities ( 5-or 6 ) which had the then most modern public transport system " trams " ...that continued till 1966-67 .
still if you go to Old Karachi , you will see construction of highest quality , whether its the Hindu Gymkhana , or Pakistan chowk , or old blocks in an around Ranchoor line , forget the post partition ugly structures that errupted over night on them .
it was already a cosmopolitan city , Burmse,Chiense, Jews, Parsis , Bha's , Iranis, Hindus, Muslims, Madrasis, Malabaris, Christians, Punjabis, Pathans, Marwaris, Bohris, Memons, Kathiwaris, Gujratis , Makranis, Balochs, and not to mention the Sindhis ....they all lived here and peacefully , acknowledging and respecting each other with a tolerant grace that has evaporated since ethnic contours were given to this unfortunate city .
so lets not distort history .
Sindhi Muslims deserve the treatement they are getting from Muhajirs; Sindhi Muslims drove away most of the Sindhi Hindus and even now are kidnapping and raping the daughters of Hindus. I support Muhajirs 100%.
I myself hail from an Urdu Speaking background and would never favour division of Sindh in the name of Sindhi and Muhajir ethnicities despite all corruption and controversies associated with the present tenure. Yes, Karachi could become a separate province or Union Territory based on its history and administrative structure. It must not be separated and named on Muhajir identity but its differences and unique identitiy amidst other areas of Sindh. If you do some research then you'll notice that local Sindhi feudals didn't have much say or control in the social infrastructure and diversity of Karachi even before the creation of Pakistan. Before immigrants reaching the city, Karachi was populatd with majority belonging to Hindu Industrialists, Bohris,Jewish merchants, Agha Khanis, Ismailis and Memon traders. And afterwards,the city would become a commercial hub and economic backbone of Pakistan. So the city must be separated not based on a particular ethnic group but its legacy and unique identity. I also favour formation of new provinces such as Seraiki and/or Bahawalpur province since they were never a part of Punjab at the first place. We must consult historical maps and sources and then determine the fate of new administrative divisions in Pakistan. My parents lived in Karachi during their childhood and adolescence and they have witnessed the era of coexistence where people in Karachi used to live in an inter-faith,inter-sectarian and inter-ethnic harmony. Yes, Muhajirs/Urdu Speakings did have exceptional talent and better literacy rate in the past but it's completely wrong to say that people of other etnicities and provinces don't have proper knowledge and upbringing as compared to what many MQM supporters would continue to show/pretend....we all are Pakistanis and have a right to speak about eveything happening anywhere in Pakistan. I also feel that MQM would never favour formation of a Muhajir province either since then they would face wrath of local Sindhi nationalists and become almost dead in rural Sindh, plus they would also loose their excuses of not getting enough funds and cooperation from the federation and provincial government.
@Salman Orangiwala: The biggest sacrifice is made by The Nizam of Hyderabad who sent 20 crores in shape of gold then. It was manifested as cotton bales to fly over enemy territory and Sydney Cotton took that gold to Pakistan. Witness to this are still there in Pakistan. But it was all done to help a new Muslim country of the sub-continent
People warned the Nizam that this act will not be seen kindly by the Govt. of India, Congress Party and Mountbatten. Nizam is said to have said. On this land of the Sultanate of Mughlia of which I am an ordinary Subedar, I want to see at least one Muslim State and if it is in the shape of Pakistan so be it and most welcome.
Hyderabad then was under a seige and under an illegal economic blockade for an year before India invaded against the terms of independence and occupied a peaceful and prosperous state. Imagine those times and imagine 20 crores then.
This is only once instance of his benevolence and help. But it was done for Muslim ummah. Regionalism did not exist with great people. And today we do not have a road to honour that great man who sacrificed his state for Pakistan. In fact Drig Road should have been named after him as the HEH The Nizam Road.
@Maria: Pakistan is that province for Muslims of India carved out of India on the basis of Muslims and Hindus. Hindus of Pakistan moved to India and Muslims of India were all to move to Pakistan only a few did. Today 36 crore Muslims of India should they come do we have the large heart to accommodate them? I think not. We are not prepared to give their due rights and think they came over. No Pakistan was made only and only for Muslims of the subcontinent not for the tribes of India then. I challenge you in history. Have a big heart and see ground reality. If we were free people we would not have talked like this. We do this because we are slaves of the Vaderas who never wanted Pakistan.
@peer, I couldnt agree more.
There would be no harm if an urban state is carved out. The villagers in Assemblies dominated by the land lords make the legislature a jagirdar's club. The city dwellers want their future in their own hands. 'they have been dominated by the vaderas for far too long. If at all the Sindies should rise up against the vaderas like the Arab Spring.
@Sindhvoice: Sirji Pakistan was not made on the basis of an regionalism please. It was made only and only on the two nation theory. Hindus left Sindh to go to India and took up properties left behind by Muslims. And Muslims who migrated from India got them here. But there are scores of Hindu properties that Muslim Sindhis and Hindus who converted to Islam occupied. They did not earn it. If Pakistan was not made we would still have been slaves of Hindu land lords and bania businessmen. Because of Pakistan you have enjoyed so much. Sindhis have never made any struggle. We, not once, have risen up against the vaderas who usurp all our rights and make us slaves. When it comes to muhajirs (I am not a muhajir) our regional feeling comes to fore. Why don't we rebel against the vaderas? Scared that he will kill you. Since Muhajirs cannot do this you are up in arms against them. I am also a Sindi but does not think like you do. Don't forget they made sacrifices we didn't. They did not take your rights. We are a lazy lot, why do you forget that?
Muhajirs who are not happy in Pakistan or who want to make their own provinces out of the lands of native Pakistanis should just return to India and make their own provinces there with their own people.
@Salman Orangiwala: man this just shows how low your mentality is. calling hindus baniyas. you guys will never respect the indigenous people of sindh. and for everyone what progress are you talking about. karachi progressed because it was a port to the whole county. not because some illetrate immigrants from somewhere did magic. mohajir came to karachi because it was they city sindhis had developed otherwise why not some desert citiies in thar.
@Truth: "Mohajirs have owned the city and they deserve a province. When everybody can get a province, why not Mohajirs" what about us sindhis who lived here before you came.
@DevilHunterX: dude karachis development startred by sindhis. just visit some old areas of karachi where sindhis use to live. and you will sew what a gem it was. and then visit your landhi...
@Salman Orangiwala:
When Karachi got developed, all free loaders are here to claim a stake... *Have some respect for your fellow countrymen. Else you will leave no difference between yourself and Zulfiqar Mirza.
@Truth, Truth is Muhajirs either Urdu speaking U.P or hyderbad,Bihar,Bhopal or Punjabi speaking from east punjab area are doing well in pakistan and in karachi then still crying why???? they owns busnisses they own bearocracy they are working in on well positions in multinational and national companies then why crying for quata may be this is there habit become since they have been discriminated by Hindus in india.
@Huma: I agree with you. the poor administration that we have today is a result of corruption. If we increase the number of provinces, all it will do is to increase corruption and expenses as we will have to support additional bloated cabinets and their teams.
@Sajid Ali: The reason why not is that all others are sons of the soil. These provinces were their home. Those who migrated also made these provinces home and adopted the language and the customs. It is only the immigrants from India who did not assimilate and are now claiming rights to territory that was never theirs.
@Salman Orangiwala: Really!! Who came penniless from India and claims to have made Karachi? Was it the refugees or the indigenous people?
@Sindhvoice , the parroting of providing "shelters " should be stopped .We scarificed our ancestors land to be settled anywhere in Pakistan , that was the deal then with Mr.Jinnah
Be rationale .How come a group who themselves were literally ruled by the BANIYAS and were deprived of the basic rights then ,could shelter the other group .???
It was the prowess of the migrants that they helped your jeopardized economy ,does the name Habib rings a bell ???? who offered a balnk cheque to Mr.Jinnah ? Mind telling me how much the Talpurs and Bhuttos offered from their coffers .
So be realistic , and stop claiming something absurd distorting facts .
Karachi generates 70% of the revenue , have been feeding Interior Sindh from independence .Have some gratitude pls.When Karachi got developed , all free loaders are here to claim a stake like they used to do in the old wild wild west .!!!!!!
@peer: What are you talking about man? With due respect, you people are getting lion's share, the economic centers of Sindh (Karachi and Hyderabad) are in your control. All the bounties of urban life are at your door step. What more do you expect from Sindhis?? You live and prosper in Sindh but you neither own Sindhi people, nor language, nor its traditions and nor you have any respect for the integrity of land. If such attitudes will continue, do you think you will earn any respect from people of land. Pls respect the right of indigenous people, we are not ready to surrender and live as red Indians on our own land.
Why not Mr.Palijo? These demands have come from the indigenous people of Sindh. This is a historic province and historically ill-treated, neglected. Your conspiracy theories start from the then East Pakistan and end in present Balochistan. Every genuine grievance is a conspiracy and anybody seeking justice to their province is an enemy and an agent of RAW & MOSSAD. We do not blame you if you open your eyes and drink whatever you like but not like a cat closing its eyes.
Who made the Kolachi suitable for Muhajirs to settle here to begin with? The Port of Qasim was held by the talpurs of sindh for more than the time Muhajirs have settled in Karachi. Surely decentralization is good then why does MQM, voice of the Muhajirs, not allow the decentralization at the district level. Karachi itself should be divided in administrative constituencies but then who is not letting that happen- The MQM.
Secondly, those saying PPP wants Punjab's division should think that Multan was never a part of Punjab. It was a totally separate entity. Associating Multan and Bhawalpur with Punjab is gross unfairness.
Lets be rational and Think. Karachi was established by Sindhi Macheras, fisherman, upon which the Muhajirs thrives ofcourse on the these Macheras destruction.
However Karachi (Urban Sindh) province may be considered.
It was Z.A.Bhutto who sowed the seeds of division for petty electoral gains. Thence the discrimination against non-Sindies started and goes unabated. If any body gets a job in Sindh it is the Sindhi who gets it. Go to the Home Dept. and see. You find no body except Sindhis. Now if you people even a cat to a wall it fights back. Similarly the Urdu speaking who we call as muhajir which is not right. Historically people who struggled and sacrificed for Pakistan were the Bengalis and The Muslims of India who never made it here. Manzil usko mili jo ke shareek e safar na tha. It is time to remember the two nation theory that tells you why Pakistan was made and for whom? Pakistan was not for Islam but for the Muslims of the subcontinent. We blocked the same Muslims from coming to Pakistan. Baluchistan is 54% of Pakistan with just 5.1% of total population. We need people to work. Why don't you get our comrades in struggle and let them work in Baluchistan?yes, and we have lots of money in the state bank to support yet another corrupt cm, and an unlimited number of ministers, advisors and hangers on... shabash!! Everyone in pakistan asking for more provinces needs to have a reality check first.
Gross violation of free speech!
@ZYX Brother, in which universe are you abiding? Why are you misleading the people? Brother,yes, I live in Karachi; I look around and find Mohajirs in majority. The people whom you are referring as business community including the likes of bohras, ismailis, memons,and khojas also migrated from India and hence are Mohajirs. They classify themselves as Mohajirs. So your argument is wrong from the very roots; as far as population is concerned, go dig out. Karachi's populace of around more than 10 million(1 crore) comprises of Mohajirs. The notion that Pathans are constituting a major part is just a fallacy. One looks around and walks on the road, and in general, one cannot even find the 5th man as being a Pathan; hence if your Mathematics is sound, dispelling the notion that they even form twenty percent of the populace. And you need to get your facts right before boasting things. Mohajirs never boasted, they did things. If for one second, we do consider your argument as worthy of debate, then friend, it is the middle-class which forms the fabric of society. Mohajirs including the likes of Liaqat Ali Khan, Sir Adamjee, Nawabs of Hyderabad and Deccan and many more contributed not only to Karachi but also to whole Pakistan in the beginning. Scientists, scholars, academics, artistes, bankers have all belonged to Mohajir class. You name it, the big-shots have always been Mohajirs.Even the philanthropist Edhi can be quoted here. Therefore its no exaggeration to say that Mohajirs made Karachi. What is ironic is that the maker of the Nuclear bomb of Pakistan that is Abdul Qadeer Khan is also a Mohajir whose roots trace to Bhopal,India. Go, do your research before commenting without sense. The fact that Agha Hassan Abedi transformed banking sector is hidden from no one- he was the Rothschild of Pakistan. So dear friend, please avoid commenting out of shear hatred.Your entrepreneurs and business giants in company like Schon and so on are also Muhajir-based, hence the trouble that had followed Bhutto's nationalization campaign. Mohajirs have owned the city and they deserve a province. When everybody can get a province, why not Mohajirs.
Karachi should be a province for administrative reasons. First, it will at least force CM of Sindh to stay in interior Sindh. The majority of interior Sindh elected members live in Karachi and don't do anything for interior Sindh
@ZYX
The "Business" people you refer to are the ones who do trade in Bori Bazaar, and run the buses of Karachi. btw even Mohajirs are in the transport business now. But who made the foundations of the banking system and Stock exchange in Karachi, making it the financial capital of Pakistan? They were mohajirs like Agha Hasan Abdi sahab.
@SindhVoice
Brother I cannot understand why you get so sentimental about a new province in Sindh. America has 52 states (Provinces). why cant Pakistan have 10 or 12 provinces? Countries create new states as they grow economically and socially, its nothing new or bad. With the new Province (Karachi & Hyderabad), Sindhis, Pashtuns, Balochs, Punjabis, along with Mohajirs will be very much welcome and it will remain their home as it is now. Its just a psychological thing that you think sindh will be 'divided'. Pakistan needs more provinces for better governance- both in Sindh and in Punjab. Even in Balochistan more provinces should be made to solve the current problem of bad governace and the monopoly of a few sardars.
Who developed Karachi, the only major port town of Pakistan?
Hint: It wasn't the Sindhis.
Who else but MQM..their dual track politics.
I think if our forefathers have known that the people they were welcoming with open arms would tomorrow disrespect them, their land, language and culture and will conspire to divide Sindh. They had never done it. It shows our forefathers did a grave mistake, and we are facing consequences now. In the name of religion, they were fooled and those who came to live with us as brothers, today, they want to be masters of our destiny and are paving the way towards division of Sindh which will only create more fissures in Sindh. Wish sanity prevail and our Mohajir brothers accept Sindh as their motherland and serve her.
Point to ponder: In 1947, we in (West) Pakistan totaled 35 millions and had 4 provinces. Now we are 180 millions and 4 provinces.
why is the ppp opposing division of sindh when it so strongly advocates for the division of punjab and KPK? When the ppp wants new provinces in punjab and KPK,then it should work for new provinces in sindh also.
Bravo Saussi Palijo for your courage. Every inch of Sindh is sacrosanct and it is very province which passed the resolution to be part of federation of Pakistan, not for this day that any Tom, dick and harry divide our land as piece of cake. Pls respect our historical rights over our land and resources. Dont make Sindh a new Baluchistan and stop such conspiracies against Sindhis.
When immigrants came to Sindh post partition, they were welcomed with open arms, Rich and peaceful Sindh provided them shelter, food and jobs. But what an irony, those friends instead of being thankful to Sindh and Sindhis are actually conspiring to divide Sindh like a piece of cake.This is sheer blindness and selfishness. Wish they open their eyes and understand that Sindh was not their occupied colony, where they came to settle but instead Sindh welcomed them during their time of troubles. Sindh is historical province, we are open to accept post partition people if they behave like sincere sons of soil, but if they conspire against Sindh, how can they accept that people of Sindh will tolerate them.
no division of sindh is acceptable. unless the maqami sindhis become prominent in karachi and everywhere else and the tension between all parties diffuses no division should be take part.
dissolve all the provinces and then make new provinces on administrative grounds (could be 10 or more)
i smell a foreign hand in trying to fan divisions in the province and Pakistan. well done Sindh Culture Minister Sassui Palijo for highlighting the issue. I extend our support on behalf of my urdu speaking pakistan loving karachites that a united sindh is the way forward to addressing the issues of the common man. we have had enough division on lines of ethnicity, religion and linguistics. united pakistan is the need of the hour. no urdu, sindhi, punjabi etc
There should definitely be a Mohajir Sooba! If Pashtoons, punjabis, etc everyone have their own sooba then why not us? We are an educated bunch and I bet if you create a mohajir province, its gonna be by far the most well developed part of Pakistan.
@Salman Orangiwala:
Umm...if you live in Karachi look around you and tell me if you think the majority is Mohajir.....clearly its not if you're being totally honest. Why on earth would the rest of us agree to being divided on the basis of being Mohajirs, when we're not Mohajirs and we've been here since the beginning too? And btw...the "Mohajirs" are mostly the middle class...the business class are still the non-urdu speaking people whether they're boris, parsis, ismailis, memons, khojas and even pathans. Compared to these communities, the urdu speaking can't boast of being responsible for creating Karachi or making it what it is. Best to sit tight and live with the rest in harmony.
The politics of MQM!
MQM exposed!
A sane decision! Also, please put a stop to the demand of division of Punjab.
If Saraiki and Hazara sooba yes,then why not Muhajir sooba yes?
Why not a Muhajir Province. Asking for province is not a crime and it will certainly benefit the country.
Why not .whats wrong with the notion of a Muhajir province ? After all we MADE Karachi what it is now from Kolachi .Why the people who never contributed to the development of Karachi , rather are here to get overnight rich by petty unfair means (read:quota ) , are objecting to our rights ?
Slowly but surely, things are moving towards their intended direction.