SHIKARPUR: Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) does not want Sindh to be divided into more provinces at any cost, party chief Nawaz Sharif said while speaking to the media on Wednesday.
Nawaz said that the way Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari are talking about more provinces, they are “playing with fire” and actually are trying to demean the PML-N.
“We are the ones who initiated talk of more provinces. Nawaz Sharif is the one who first talked about the Bahawalpur province, and also of south Punjab, and we feel proud about it,” Nawaz told the media.
He added, “They [Gilani, Zardari] are trying to gather votes in the upcoming elections… They have sidelined Pakistan’s interests to work on their own.”
The PML-N will hold a rally in the Garhi Yaseen area of Shikarpur on Wednesday at 5pm. Sources claimed that around 10,000 seats have been set up at the venue where PML-N leader Marvi Memon will also address the gathering.
COMMENTS (32)
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@Zamir Malik:
Even though I am also an Urdu Speaking and support Imran Khan, but I would say that it's better if he doesn't say anything about division of Sindh or Muhajir province etc...right now, since PTI never won a seat from anywhere in Sindh. So,presently if Khan participates in any such discussion and gives statements then it may lead to yet another round of verbal fights and conflicts,and even if a bird is going to die anywhere in Sindh then Imran Khan will be held responsible and will be labelled as racist,enemy of Sindh,enemy of Karachi,agent of agencies and so on.....So let the current government complete its tenure in 2013,and then Imran Khan could say something about this issue too.
Kashmir gone, FATA out of control, Baluchistan on its way.....dont worry soon we will just have one side of Indus left for us.
We have lost 35000 people in last 5 years - our economy is on a default, our ids are unsafe, our girls cant go to school, our future is dark, and to utter surprise our politicians are still focusing on issues that can be sorted out latter. This was the time to help unite the nation, and here i see not only rulers but also our poor as well as educated divided - so no wonder it will not take long for us to fall, further and deeper.
Pakistan Zindabad
@Sindhvoice , i totally endorse your point of view , although i am an urdu speaking(New Sindhi), our forefathers migrated from india , get respect , land and opportunities , in the province of sindh. People of sindh shared their resources with the new incumbent. We should be thankful to the sindhi speaking sindhis for their open heart attitude, instead demanding a separate province. I hope if urdu speaking people would not do this kind of injustice to the people of sindh. Thanks
very nice statement, sindh shouldnt be divided as mqm want to libarate karachi we should know their evil aims
The political situation of Karachi would get worst if Sindh divides. If mohajirs make government they will become trouble for other ethnic classes living in karachi and same is the case with sindhis. Inter-dependency is very important in Sindh and which can only be achieved through un divided sindh.
@Arshad bilwany: Why dont you ask for split up of all the country into administrative units? what the heck is that you couldn't change your status yet? muhajir is a word for a person who migrated, you migrated and let go of it man. You are now deeply settled, why couldn't you now demand of an administrative breakup of all the Sindh, Punjab and other provinces which would be in your interest better than that if you get a muhajir province
Karachi is the capital of Sind and economic and commercial hub. The province of Sind is ruled from Karachi and not from far away. All the other potential provinces of future are on administrative basis and are ruled from far away. It is the people living in Karachi are ruling the Sind not the other way around. Let us not try to start a blood bath in Sind and break the ruling coalition as if we already do not have enough problems.
@Lobster:
The sons of soils of Sindh have established plenty of universities in Sindh. This includes LUMHS, Jamshoro (which ranks higher than NED), Isra, Tando Adam Agriculture etc. However, if people are unable to differentiate the status of Karachi from the Seraiki province I will restate it for them:
Muhajir community is not historically based in Karachi, perhaps in fifty more years when the partition generation is faded and all residents of Sindh have come to terms with it they can demand a separate province.
Secondly, perhaps muhajirs should ask MQM to make this demand because it is without doubt the representative party of muhajirs.
Until that happens perhaps, muhajirs should ponder that with there longest serving considerably powerful governor in the history of Pakistan, a basketful of ministries and a muhajir as IG Karachi how exactly are they being marginalised.
Dividing sindh will definately result in violence. Both MQM and PPP and all the parties representing people in Sindh are opposing the division. So, it does not make sense to partition this province when no one is demanding it.
The people who are dreaming for Mohajir Province , only wants to create another blood bath in Sindh. I really dont understand what these kind of people wants ? they have their due share in the government.
The term that comes to mind is 'more loyal than the king' question is if he is/was so sincere what did he do for sindh when he was the PM twice? A political hypocrite - or is it the same thing?
What a hopeless state of affairs, people who migrated from India and majority of them settled in Sindh? Why? Was it written Liberation document 1947 that any A, B, C will come and settle in Sindh and then demand its right to divide her. Sindh welcomed all refuges with open arms, they were settled in urban areas of Sindh but despite all such prosperity and even after 60 years, they label themselves Mohajirs, they are not ready to integrate in Sindh and Pakistan. Rest assured, Sindh is not occupied colony, we become part of this federation through democratic process. It is enough now, In the name of religion and patriotism, an army of refugees came to Sindh, who doesnt own Sindh, not its culture, language and traditions, and they are conspiring against the very land and people which they gave them every thing. I request them, dont play with fires and dont consider Sindh as your colonized land. Live with as brother or leave Sindh, because Pakistan DOESNOT end in Sindh.
What are the pros and cons of more administrative units for the purpose of more accountability and good governance ?
I think, we should honestly let this debate get to the best possible logical conclusion and speak more and more about the possibilities... I am an Urdu speaking person but have the opinion that Sindh belongs to Sindhis (People living in Sindh)...
I am not in favor of division on the basis of ethnicity and linguistic but more specifically just administratively... Let's see how the world is taking this issue of creating more administrative units... At least we are talking about it today, may be we will be able to reach to a consensus in years to come. Let's give it a thought!
@Qayyum: Why can't son of soil established a single credible university in Sindh? Why Sindhis always hunt for quota instead of competing on merit? Sindhi CM Qaim Ali Shah won't develop a single city in Sindh, he himself lives in Karachi. The attitude that "we won't progress but will ask for our share in any progress" isn't helpful
Is sindh a sacred cow? if there is talk of division of punjab and KPK then why not form provinces in sindh. Sindhi voted for zardari.......they should be ready for the consequences of his game of division of punjab. when zardari talks of Siraiki Sooba (not south punjab....to flare ethnic and linguistic tensions) he wants to include Tank and DI Khan from KPK, but he deliberately leaves the Siraiki portion in Sind province. We know zardari's game very well. I my self belong to multan and though I am happy for south punjab......the game played by zardari gilani duo is disgusting.
The peope of punjab are pluralistic, therefore accepted the divison of our province with open heart and smiling faces, we know its better for our country. There should be more provinces in Sind, Balochistan and KPK. FATA and gilgit Baltistan and AJK should also be made provinces of the country. laws should be same for the whole nation and there should be no discrimination.
@Abdul..basit:
People of Punjab believe in good administration they were not against the division of the province but they don't want division on ethnic basis. Vote bank of PML N has enriched in last few years because of their good performance in Punjab on comparative basis. Their acknowledgment of issues relating sindh and balouchitstan will be appreicated soon.
There is no racism against Muhajirs but rather the indigenous population of Sindh, the Sindhis, do not want their land separated due to migration of refugees on ethnic lines. Karachi is the breadbasket of Sindh and must remain the Capital of Sindh and there should be more equality in urban Sindh for the indigenous Sindhis. There is only 2% quota for Sindhi students at the university of Karachi, it may be argued that this is racism by Muhajirs against Sindhis. PMLN wants to be a national party and this is a national issue- at present the country cannot afford more provinces- Sindh should be divided and a new ethnic crisis be created.
@Afzal khan:
Well MQM the true representation of Mohajirs never showed up firmly for seperate province. Secondly I personally not in favour to depart provinces on ethnic basis but if Punjab is the bench mark to follow so we are not short off morons too.
Mian sahab,worry about the people who gave you votes in the last elections.it was punjab that gave you votes,you failed to prevent the division of punjab,now why are you being so active to prevent the creation of the south sindh province? Please Let the people of karachi and hyderabad decide their own fate and make their own new province.
A south sindh province is in the best interest of all pakistanis.The constant fighting and target killing in karachi will finish and it will earn even more revenue for all of pakistan.Everyone should strongly support the creation of the south sindh province.
@Afzal khan:
The ppp which was made the most efforts for dividing punjab is now making the most efforts to resist the division of sindh.What was good in punjab has suddenly become bad when it came to sindh.Mohajir province must be formed in sindh,why must mohajirs be treated as second class citizens in this country,when hazara and saraiki people are getting their provinces,than mohajirs must also.
This is called "Hit the nail on Head".Fearing and Feeling the Punjab monopoly slipping out of hands harms you so much, Mr. Shareef. Imagine the situation when it actualizes.
Well all is well and good in politics. But i think PTI stance in recent weeks is nowhere to be seen. I wish that Imran Khan will make inroads in other provinces as well and he should come forward with his stance as well on provinces and other issues like PMLN is doing right now. At present PMLN Is getting the lead in this case. But i appreciate the stance of PMLN that the division of Punjab must be done on administrative basis and that is a great thing.
The division of sind will result in a better pakistan,a more economically prosperous pakistan.the administration of sind will vastly improve when sind is divided,right now karachi on it own has a population of over 20 million and there are severe administrative issues that the people of karachi mirpurkhas and hyderabad are facing.
Nawaz sharif should have shown this much courage in opposing the division of his own province.He couldn't stop the breaking up of the province from where he got the voters' mandate but is opposing new provinces from sindh where he got no seats!! the pml-n is creating new provinces out of punjab but are against new provinces in sindh.This hypocrisy is disappointing.
the urdu,memoni and gujrati speaking people of sindh have given a lot of sacrifices for the development of karachi and hyderabad.today, karachi has been made into the biggest revenue earner in all of pakistan.karachi' business community is the biggest and most developed.Thousands of factories have been set up in karachi and hyderabad by the people who came over from india at the time of partition. It's high time that the mohajirs got a province of their own,it's time the people of karachi and hyderabad became masters of their own destinies.
The mohajir people made a lot of sacrifices for the creation of pakistan.Our ancestors left all the riches,all the belongings in India to come to pakistan.but over here we are not treated as sons of the soil in karachi and hyderabad.There is discriminatory treatment in govt. jobs in every sector.When our forefathers were the ones who made a lot of sacrifices for pakistan than why are their descendants being treated so badly.This opposition to a muhajir province is a prime example,every party was happy and overeager to make new provinces out of punjab but the same parties are now opposing the creation of a new province in sindh.Why does everyone start opposing and criticising when muhajir rights are under discussion.
Then why so careless with Punjab???
I think this news is floating around since last night and express tribune is publishing it now. double standards..
Why the discrimination against the Mohajir community? If Punjab can be divided up and that too peacefully than why not Sindh.If seraiki province can be made than why not the Muhajir province. This discrimination against mohajir people should end.The ppp which led the way for the making of new provinces in punjab must now lead the way in making new provinces in sindh.The ppp and its allies have well over two-third majority in the sindh assembly and can easily pass a resolution for the creation of a new mohajir province out of Sindh.
A Punjabi playing the Sindh card? Interesting.