Census a conspiracy against Sindh: Riaz Chandio

Nationalist parties’ question efficacy, intention of province-wide exercise

HYDERABAD:

The nationalist parties have reiterated their disapproval of the ongoing population census, claiming that it was part of a conspiracy with the aim to establish that the 'native population of Sindh is no longer a majority in the province'.

"People should know on whose whims this census is being conducted," said Jeay Sindh Mahaz President Riaz Chandio while speaking to the media at a protest camp outside the Hyderabad Press Club on Sunday. "Under the law, the census is supposed to take place after an interval of ten years."

Chandio said the census should have been carried out in 2027, as the last census took place in 2017. "On whose agenda has this census been planned?" he questioned.

He contended that Pakistan Peoples Party Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro had betrayed his party's intentions by suggesting that national identity cards be issued to Bengalis living in Pakistan. "Tomorrow they will express similar sentiments for the Afghans."

He claimed that Afghans were 'causing problems' for locals while calling for their immediate repatriation, while criticising the PPP, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan over 'their silence on the burning issue of repatriation of Afghans'.

He said they were involved in illegal and criminal activities. "You may like these people, but Sindhis don't," he said.

Chandio said millions in Sindh remained homeless because of the catastrophic rains and floods during the last monsoon. "Yet, the government is spending Rs50 billion on the census process instead of allocating that amount to rehabilitee the flood-hit."

This was, he continued, in addition to back-breaking inflation and lawlessness. "The bandits hiding in the forests and riverine areas are as much of a menace as enforced disappearances and corruption," he said.

Separately, the Qaumi Awami Tehreek announced province-wide 'short marches' against the digital census.

The protests will be organised in all districts of Sindh from March 3 to March 21. The protest will start from a given location of a district and end at a different point in the same district, QAT's spokesman Ashraf Palijo informed.

Meanwhile, at a seminar in the Larkana district, Awami Tehreek President Lal Jarwar inquired how would the census teams perform the headcount of the millions rendered displaced and or homeless because of the flood.

He claimed thousands of villages remained inaccessible because the connecting roads were underwater. "There is no legal standing of this census because it is being held four years early," he argued.

He blamed the federal government for trying to find an escape from the general elections by organising the census.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2023.