Sindhi nationalists unite to oppose digital census
Panellists say stats on census, education key issues.
A large number of workers of Qomi Awami Tehreek (QAT), including women, staged a protest march against the ongoing digital population census on Saturday. They marched from the City Gate Hotel to Hyderabad Press Club while shouting slogans against the rulers for "conspiring against the native population of Sindh" through the census.
"An anti-Sindh and anti-Pakistan conspiracy is being brought to fruition under the garb of this census," alleged QAT senior leader Dr Aziz Talpur while addressing the marchers. "This census is unlawful and unconstitutional. Its only purpose is to increase the number of MQM-Pakistan's seats in the assemblies," he alleged.
Another QAT leader Dr Gulzar Jumani said that the state wanted to accept Afghans, Bengalis, Biharis and Burmese as residents of Sindh.
The mandatory NIC-holding condition has been waived for the headcount on the wishes of MQM-Pakistan. "Through figure-fudging, all illegal immigrants will be shown as a majority in Sindh," he warned.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 12th, 2023.