Amid criticism from civil activists, environmentalists, rights groups and Sindhi nationalist parties, the turf war between the Pakistan Peoples Party-led Sindh government and the Centre over the twin islands of Bhandar and Dingi escalated on Tuesday with the Sindh cabinet rejecting the recently promulgated Pakistan Islands Development Authority Ordinance.
Given the growing calls for revocation of the presidential ordinance and PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's announcement the day before, stating that the PPP would "oppose the illegal annexation of Sindh's Islands," the cabinet's decision was hardly surprising.
However, shortly afterwards, a federal minister claimed on Twitter that the Sindh government had already consented to Bhandar's development in July. A document shared by him purported that the island had been made 'available' to the Centre.
Unanimous rejection
A meeting of the Sindh cabinet convened on Tuesday, under Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, with a single-point agenda - to make a decision about the islands.
The cabinet was given a detailed briefing on the ordinance promulgated on August 31 by President Dr Arif Alvi.
The ordinance is against the Constitution of Pakistan, noted the cabinet members, according to the Chief Minister's House spokesperson. He quoted them as stating, "The Constitution establishes ownership of the provincial government on the lands, the islands and the land in the sea located within its territorial jurisdiction."
The ordinance has been promulgated in a manner as if the islands are the Centre's property, opined the cabinet members.
The provincial government has laid down some parameters for development of the islands, which includes them remaining the Sindh government's property. Besides, the terms and conditions of development projects were to be shared with the provincial government and the interests of the local population were to be safeguarded, according to the cabinet.
However, setting aside these conditions, the ordinance has declared islands in the territorial jurisdiction of Sindh and Balochistan as the property of the federal government, noted the cabinet.
The cabinet viewed the presidential ordinance as an attempt to trample on the rights of Sindh's people and resolved to write a letter to the Centre insisting on its immediate revocation as it unanimously rejected it.
Objections raised
Soon after, Federal Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi dubbed the PPP's protests as 'drama.' Taking to Twitter, he shared a letter purportedly by the Sindh land utilisation secretary, according to which the Sindh cabinet made Bhandar available to the Centre in July. The letter specifies that terms and conditions are to be agreed upon and the legitimate interests of the local fisherman and population are to be protected.
Objections were raised from several corners over the creation of cities on the twin islands soon after the controversial ordinance became public knowledge. Criticism had also been levied earlier when the premier suggested 'development' on the islands.
Dissenting voices invoked concerns for the local populace, the environment and provincial rights, among others.
Amid the backlash, the PPP also voiced objections.
"The Pakistan People's Party will oppose the illegal annexation of Sindh's Islands through Presidential ordinance by the PTI government. I ask how is this act any different to Modi's actions in occupied Kashmir? Move will be opposed in National, Provincial Assembly & the Senate," tweeted Bilawal on Monday.
Criticism was levied at the PPP and the Sindh government after Zaidi's tweet cast doubts on the party's sincerity towards efforts against the ordinance.
Sindhi nationalist parties, civil society and others had, however, already chalked out their own protest plans against the Centre's decision, voicing distrust in both the federal and provincial governments.
Sindh Taraqi Pasand party leader Dr Qadir Magsi said that there was anger in every corner of Sindh over the ordinance promulgated in connivance with the PPP government. "[PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali] Zardari has already sold Sindh's land and this decision to hand over the islands is a blot in the face of his party that claims to champion Sindh's rights."
A PPP government does not mean that Sindh's ruling party has ownership over the rights of Sindh's people, he censured, adding that such a decision was also made during former President Pervez Musharraf's rule too, but was revoked after people resisted the move.
"We will always stand and legally fight for the legitimate rights of the people living in Sindh," said Dr Magsi.
Meanwhile, writer Jami Chandio remarked it was good that the Sindh cabinet and Bilawal had opposed the ordinance following public pressure. "But the Sindh Assembly should [also] reject the ordinance and make its own law to protect the rights of indigenous people and preserve the environment and ecology."
Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2020.
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