Sindh Adabi Sangat protests governor's 'divisive' statements

Protesters, joined by civil society activists, political workers, call for removal of Ismail

HYDERABAD: Sindh Governor Imran Ismail's statement in favour of the administrative division of Sindh continues to stir ripples of backlash.

Sindhi Adabi Sangat [literary fraternity] took to the streets on Sunday in several cities of Sindh. Members of the Sangat, who were joined by civil society representatives and nationalist parties, demanded in chorus the removal of Ismail. Some others even went on to call for legislation to deprive a person pressing for Sindh's division from citizenship of the province.

The protest rallies echoed with 'go governor go' slogans. "By repeatedly peddling the plan for division, is Sindh being punished for being the first province to pass the resolution for the creation of Pakistan?" asked Sangat Central General Secretary Ahmed Solangi. He was speaking at a rally outside Hyderabad Press Club.



He blamed Ismail for nurturing the same divisive ideology which triggered ethnic riots in the province. "The talk of dividing Sindh is tantamount to talk of dividing Pakistan," he asserted. He demanded the removal of Ismail and his replacement with a non-partisan governor.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Regional Coordinator Imdad Chandio said the governor was fueling ethnic strife in Pakistan knowing full well the consequences of disharmony for the province and the country at large. He said the federal government should immediately sack the governor.

Jami Chandio, a writer and civil society activist, asked Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leadership to explain why the party has not condemned Ismail's statement. "We don't accept the governor's apology. He should immediately resign." Chandio said that the Sindh Assembly should legislate a law which can cancel the province's citizenship for people who demand division of Sindh.

Hari Porhiyat Council's Punhal Sario, Youth Action Committee's Sindhu Nawaz, Awami Jamhoori Party's Nazeer Qureshi and other literary persons, educationists, civil society activists and political workers also spoke at the protest.