PPP draws a red line over Karachi's status

The Pakistan Peoples Party on Eidul Azha drew a hard line against any debate over Karachi's constitutional status, with senior Sindh leaders warning that the province would resist any move to place the country's financial capital under federal control amid mounting speculation surrounding a possible "28th Constitutional Amendment."

Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said "it is impossible to hand Karachi over to the federation," insisting that the city "has always been a part of Sindh and will remain so." Speaking to the media after Eid prayers at Rawal Farmhouse in Rahooki near Hyderabad, Memon accused opposition parties, particularly the MQM and Jamaat-e-Islami, of using anti-PPP rhetoric as the basis of their politics.

His remarks came amid growing political chatter on social media regarding a possible constitutional amendment linked to provincial powers and the city's administrative structure.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, speaking separately in Sehwan, reinforced the party's position, saying no constitutional amendment could pass parliament without the consent of the PPP. "No one has discussed any 28th Amendment with us, nor has any draft been shared," he said, dismissing reports of proposed changes affecting provinces or major cities as "mere speculation."

Former senator Maula Bux Chandio went a step further, describing any such amendment as "a threat to Sindh's existence," and warning that the people of Sindh would never accept attempts to undermine provincial autonomy.

The statements signal a coordinated response from the PPP leadership as political debate intensifies over the balance of power between the federation and provinces following recent infrastructure and governance discussions centered on Karachi.

During his media interaction, Sharjeel Memon also defended the Sindh government's performance on local governance, anti-drug operations and women empowerment initiatives, while announcing that the Latifabad-to-Hyder Chowk route in Hyderabad would become operational immediately after Eid. He said work on Karachi's Red Line BRT project was continuing under the supervision of the Sindh government after contracts with foreign firms were cancelled.

Addressing civic issues, Memon acknowledged Sindh's worsening water shortages, saying the province's water supply depended entirely on the Indus River.

He also criticised the federal government over electricity and gas shortages, alleging Sindh continued to face "systemic injustice" despite repeated protests.

Murad Ali Shah, meanwhile, said the Sindh government would attempt to provide maximum relief to the public in the upcoming provincial budget amid rising inflation. He also confirmed there were no plans to create new districts in Sindh and said rehabilitation work on Manchar Lake was under way.

The PPP leaders' unusually sharp tone reflects growing political sensitivity in Sindh over any discussion perceived as weakening provincial authority - particularly concerning Karachi, which remains central to both Pakistan's economy and its political fault lines.