Sindh Assembly condemns ‘MQM-P’s attempt to break up Sindh’

Resolution in reaction to bill tabled by the MQM-P in National Assembly

KARACHI: A day after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) presented a bill in the National Assembly that allegedly aims to carve out a new province from Sindh, the Sindh Assembly passed a resolution on Wednesday to condemn the move and asked the federal government to avoid any such action that may be detrimental to the spirit of the federation.

On Tuesday, the MQM-P's Kishwer Zehra tabled a bill in the National Assembly that sought to amend the procedure for changing the geographical boundaries of provinces. The said bill seeks the removal of Clause 4 of Article 239 of the Constitution, which empowers provinces to determine the geographical boundaries within their jurisdictions.



Up in arms

On Wednesday, the Sindh Assembly was up in arms against what the treasury lawmakers termed was an attempt to carve out a province from Sindh. "This house recommends that the federal government, instead of playing divisive politics, should extend all possible cooperation to the government of Sindh for the welfare of the province in light of the historic 18th Constitutional Amendment," reads the resolution, moved by Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Ghulam Qadir Chandio in the Sindh Assembly. "The step will indeed be tantamount to betraying the purpose of federalism and against the wishes of the people of Sindh. Further, Article 239 (4) requires that the same shall be passed by the respective assembly with a 2/3 majority for any such change. Hence the move is rejected by the people of Sindh," the resolution adds.

Chandio's resolution was also supported by the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) MPAs, who sit in the opposition benches. It was, however, rejected by the MQM-P and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, both of which are coalition partners in the Centre.

During the debate on the issue, the house echoed with slogans like "marsoon marsoon, Sindh na deson" (Will die, but won't give up Sindh). Referring to the MQM-P's bill, Chandio said that some elements had started conspiring to break Pakistan into pieces. "These elements want to make a fall-of-Dhaka like the situation here," he said warning that the people of Sindh remained silent and tolerated the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, but there would be a bloodbath if any such move was instigated.

Endorsing the resolution, GDA's Nusrat Seher Abbasi said that they were ready to render sacrifices, but would not allow anyone to break Sindh. "Pir Pagara has already announced that no one can dare see Sindh with an evil eye. The Hours are ready to fight till the last breath," she said, referring to the spiritual jamaat led by the Pir Pagara.

Sindh Information Minister Saeed Ghani also became emotional and said that the MQM-P was still following the beliefs of Altaf Hussain, despite apparently parting ways with him. "MQM-P's move to form a new province is actually Altaf Hussain's agenda," he said.

The minister said that after its failure in the provincial assembly, the MQM-P was trying to achieve its ulterior motives through the National Assembly. He wondered aloud why the PTI government did not oppose the move in the National Assembly.

Ghani said that the amendment was sent to the Sindh government and when it was presented to the cabinet, the cabinet members expressed strong reservations over it. He added that MQM-P wanted to make changes in Sindh's territorial boundaries but this was not possible without the will of the provincial government.

MMA's Abdul Rashid also endorsed Chandio's resolution and said that Sindh was the motherland of all the people sitting in the house and they would not be part of any attempt to break it. "I just want to say that Karachi is our soul, so it should be given due rights too," he said, adding, "We have already lost East Pakistan and since the creation of Pakistan, people have gotten nothing, but worries."

Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, in his remarks, said that each and every child of Sindh was ready to die but would not allow its division.

PTI responds

Leader of the Opposition Firdous Shamim Naqvi said no one dared to break Sindh, but he wanted to speak in detail about the issue. At this, the speaker interrupted him and said: "Just tell me. Are you in favor of this resolution or against it?" Naqvi was unwilling to give a yes or no. "I will give my views differently."

In the meantime, the speaker put the resolution up for voting. Lawmakers affiliated with the PPP, GDA, MMA, and TLP supported the resolution while the MQM-P and PTI MPAs opposed it. Later the resolution was passed with majority votes.



Earlier, as the session started, Chandio stood up seeking the speaker's permission to move the resolution. As the speaker allowed him, the joint opposition members stood up from their seats. "Please let us finish the agenda."

But the speaker did not pay them any heed, which compelled the opposition members to protest in front of his podium. Addressing the opposition leader, the speaker said, "I have allowed the resolution because the honorable gentleman is bringing a resolution against the move to carve out another province from Sindh."

At his remarks, members from the GDA stopped the protest and went back to their seats. The other lawmakers followed suit.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2019.