While talking to federal ministers belonging to Sindh at the President House, Zardari said that opponents of the PPP have launched a propaganda campaign to divide Sindh and believes the campaign has been launched to defame the government.
President Zardari said there will be a uniform LG system across Sindh, including Karachi and Hyderabad, and that all parties will be consulted regarding this matter.
The federal ministers also briefed the President about people’s reservations on the LG system.
CM Sindh denies allegations about dividing Sindh
On the other hand Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Qaim Ali Shah said on Thursday said that the local government (LG) ordinance was imposed after consultation with the coalition.
The CM made these statements during a press conference after meeting the Sindh Council of the People’s Party.
He said that party members were taken into confidence regarding the LG system adding that the administration system was changed in line with the reservations expressed by the coalition partners.
Speaking on allegations regarding conspiracies to divide Sindh, he denied these allegations saying the LG system can be reviewed for amendments to better the existing system.
Earlier, the President on Wednesday held separate meetings with PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and head of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), taking them into confidence over the government’s decision to revert back to the local bodies’ system introduced in 2001 in Sindh.
President Zardari is facing stiff resistance from within his own party over the new deal with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, especially from Sindh leaders.
“We have to face our electorates, not Babar Awan. We have strong reservations about the way this deal was clinched,” a federal minister from Sindh had told The Express Tribune the other day during an interaction.
Under such circumstances President Zardari is seeking support from other parties to give his own party members the message to quell this internal rift, sources said.
(Read: Sindh local govt system: President Zardari takes allies into confidence)
COMMENTS (28)
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Who says Sindh has one ethinic group and one mind set. In tharparker, umerkot Marwari language is spoken, In Jacobabad huge population speak Baluchi, In Kashmore, Ghotki, nowshehroferoz Saraiki is spoken, In southern regions of Thatta and Badin Katchi language is spoken. Other then Karachi and Hyderabad Urdu is spoken by majority in Sukkur City, Nawabshah city, Mirpurkhas City, TanduAdam City, TanduAllahyar city.
Rather than two Punjab may be divided into the following four provinces (with provisional names) with a provision for the border districts to join the adjacent province through a referendum: one, Abaseen province comprised of districts between the rivers of Sindh and Jhelum. Hazara may also like to join this province on account of various social, commercial, industrial and communication links and the presence of state of the art educational and medical facilities in the District of Rawalpindi. Second, Punjab provinces comprised of the districts situated in the east of the river Jhelum and North of Khanewal. Third, Bahawalpur province comprised of territory of the original Bahawalpur state. Fourth, Seraiki province comprised of the remaining districts of Punjab. In the end, I humbly appeal to the federal government in the national interest to kindly pursue the division of Punjab for the better governance. As Cheap Minister never paid attention to the betterment of these areas that are badly hit by poverty, unemployment and low life standard, infact he is so much busy to save his Takht-e-Lahore that he does not have time to pay for the betterment of these areas fall in the administrative jurisdiction of Punjab Government. Division of Punjab into four provinces is the only solution of plight of browbeaten people of Punjab. Ratheran than deeming the demand of more provinces in Punjab, PML-N is hushing up the voice of Saraeki province even. PML-N has started politicizing the issue by demanding division of other provinces as a counter attack. However in Sindh there is one language and one ethical mind set but look at Punjab, Two different languages, Punjabi and Siraiki and different mindset almost in all the major districts. Thus rather than playing politics PML-N should positively respond to the voices of People.
Sindh should be divided into twenty three provinces (from current districts) before PPP divides Punjab. This should be the new demand of Punjabis
If you make plans to divide our Punjab then we will make plans to divide your Sindh, Mr. Zardari. Its you and your PPP who started this game. We already lost so much of Punjab in 1947 to India, we can not lose another inch of our Sohna Punjab.
@Adeel
My comment was sarcastic, your point was exactly my point if you read the entire comment.
I think, it is all about starting a debate on division of Sindh as well - Zardari statemet meant exactly the opposite. People will see Talk shows on this statement as well.
Why we can't have Mohajar Province, if Saraiki people can have their own. We need seperate Province in Sindh
President is correct - Babar Awan and Rehman Malik are biggest opponents of PPP
@Mehran
For your information the Urdu speakers of Karachi and Hyderabad are much more far apart from the Sindhis, than the Saraikis are from the Punjabis. So if the Saraikis can get a separate province, why not we urdu speakers, who live and die in Karachi and Hyderabad. Karachi and Hyderabad is our home- this is where we work, live, stay our entire lifes. and we are NOT Sindhis.
These two cities (Karachi and Hyderabad) should be separated from sindh and made into a separate province- Karachiabad for we urdu speakers.
MQM should join in Coalition with PPP(N), the sharifs can help in creating a separate province- Karachiabad. Moreover if you think logically, these two cities are very different from interior sindh like Larkana or Nawabshah.
Zaroori hai Zaroori hai...Urdu Suba Zaroori hai!!
No any province should be divided on ethnic lines..for good governance , betterment of people and to control the bloodshed Karachi should be divided into five districts and also one more district Lyari should be established on urgent basis. To counter the menace of Bata Mafia and snatching of vehicles, cell phones this is the full and final solution.
PPP came to power with the division of Pakistan. If Pakistan can be divided why not sindh?? Pakistan could be saved if we had mended our attitude towards benglis. Same advice to PPP jialas from Sindh. Mend your ways NO body will divide Sindh for any reason. Sindh is a land of love and sufis no body wants its division but................
At times I feel he is the Co-Chairman of PPPP (Zardari Group) as I do not find party stalwarts like Aitizaz Ahsan, Naheed Khan, Safdar Abbasi, late Nasirullah Babar and many more.
I smell a rat in this, Mr. Zardari is using the Sindhi nationalists & PPP Sindh leaders to counter the demand of Karachites to have a grass root level democratic local government system, that actually delivered from 2001 to 2008 (we have benefited from this system directly unlike in the past 54 years). Don't care if interior Sindh wishes to remain in the STONE AGE but us Karachites need to get aligned with rest of the World and progress accordingly in the 21st century.
PPP will never accept division of Sindh says President Zardari and yes its true because in Sindh there is one language and one ethical mind set but look at Punjab, Two different languages, Punjabi and Siraiki. Two different ethical mind set. Therefore its necessary to give both different administrations.
Might some of you think that Karachi people speak Urdu and all others speak Sindhi makes them different. If that's the case then Urdu is our National language. Most of Punjabis, Pathans speak Urdu when living in Sindh, that doesn't means that we make a separate province for them. When We Sindhis go to Punjab, Baluchistan or K-P then we speak Urdu, so we can demand other Urdu speaking provinces in Punjab, Baluchistan and K-P.
Let have case. " If I want to have immigration (Muhajir) to China or America then I have to learn Chinese or English in order to coup with their society. Same is case Karachi people who still call themselves Immigrates or Muhajirs, Ask them do they have Pakistan ID card? Sindh Domicile? If yes, So they are not Muhajir first of all, There domicile shows they are Sindhi (Not speaking Sindhi, only living in Sindh). So If they cant speak Sindhi it there fault, not Our (Sindhi speakers). They haven't adopt our society, never learn to speak Sindhi.
You read and Decide youself/
Fellow Punjabis, we have to urgently address the issue of Lahore and its exploitation of of the rest of Punjab or else our ancient motherland will be divided yet again. Lahore's extravagances are a real issue that are leaving millions in poverty and neglect and this is what is generating these new pseudo-ethnic and linguistic identities. We have to consider moving the capital of Punjab to a new location.
what the hell? Karachi alone has a a potential of atleast 2 provinces...
hey LOOK WHO IS TALKING. Mr President Either you shouldn't have presented this idea of Division of Punjab or now you should learn to Have tolerance. I Believe Provinces should be divided on Administration basis But Not under PPP's government. they're racist.
Don't Worry, Nothing will Happen Mr.President.
Why only Punjab ? every province should be divided on administration basis.
Sindh should be divided as well. How in the world can a country of 180 million people be governed only as FOUR provinces? It's impossible! America has 290 million people, and over 50 states. Us Pakistanis need to stop being so emotional about the names of provinces and start to do what is best for the development of our country: the creation of newer, smaller provinces that can be run more efficiently. Regards, Rehan
PPP will never accept division of Sindh says President Zardari. Ok so why must you divide Punjab and then even that on ethnic lines? What is wrong with you people?
It about time the PPP should divide. This President is by far the most corrupt and least interested about the nation. However, I hope the government stays till next election and people should vote them out. The is amazing the energy he is spending o stay in power. I wish only an ounce he can spend in fixing this nation, he can easily change the nation...
Sad reality is that everyone that I have talked to in Pakistan (and outside) tells me he is corrupt and self-centered SOB. But no one is standing against him. Well democracy is a strong thing. What is happening in Egypt, Syria, ... will come to Pakistan soon and when it does it is going to be a mighty force of 200M people... Watch out Pakistan.
Dividing Sindh is propaganda and dividing KP, Punjab, Balouchistan is the need of the hour? Sindh being the worst governed province especially when taking the situation of Karachi into consideration needs to be divided into 3 provinces.Not just for better governance but also because no Sindhi wins from Karachi or Hyderabad anymore.
Yet more hypocrisy by mr 10%. why does he want Punjab divided then? Surely if it works for Punjab it should work for Sindh?
and what did you do first mr. president ?