Sindh Assembly sends unity resolution to federal government

Passes petroleum levy resolution amid ruckus; PTI lawmaker alleges police violence against party workers

The Sindh Assembly on Tuesday formally forwarded its resolution defending the province’s unity and geographical integrity to the federal government and key state institutions, putting the Centre on notice over any proposal to alter Sindh’s existing boundaries.

The Sindh Assembly Secretariat sent copies of the resolution to the Presidency, Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Senate and National Assembly principal secretaries.

The resolution declared in unequivocal terms that “Sindh is one and shall remain one” and calls upon the federal government, Parliament, all political parties and state institutions to respect the province’s geographical integrity and refrain from supporting any proposal to change its existing boundaries.

Read: ‘Sindh is one, shall remain one’: Assembly passes resolution against division of province

It urged the federal government and state institutions to respect the democratic will of the people of the province.

According to constitutional experts, relevant federal authorities are required under the rules to respond to the resolution within 30 days. In the event of non-compliance or failure to receive a response within the stipulated period, a privilege motion may be moved in the Sindh Assembly.

The assembly’s Privileges Committee can summon the concerned officials and, under its powers, issue warrants for their arrest, the experts said.

MQM chants slogans, PTI raises ‘police brutality’

The assembly unanimously called on the federal government to abolish the petroleum levy and provide relief to inflation-hit citizens, even as an uproar by MQM lawmakers repeatedly disrupted proceedings on Private Members’ Day.

The resolution, moved by Jamaat-e-Islami parliamentary leader Muhammad Farooq, demanded immediate withdrawal of the petroleum levy. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziaul Lanjar said the matter fell within the federal government’s jurisdiction and Sindh had no authority to abolish the levy, but the provincial government could not oppose the resolution because of its public importance.

The session was repeatedly disrupted by MQM lawmakers, who chanted slogans including “Sindhudesh Na Manzoor” and “Speaker-gardi Na Manzoor”. Speaker Owais Qadir Shah repeatedly urged the protesting members to take their seats and allow proceedings to continue, remarking that the entire province was watching what was happening inside the house.

At the outset, Opposition Leader Ali Khursheedi complained that government lawmakers were playing videos inside the assembly and that no action had been taken against them, despite the opposition previously being made to apologise over a similar incident. He alleged that assembly proceedings were appearing on the social media accounts of government members, including ministers. The speaker asked him to provide a list of the members involved.

Also Read: PPP digs in its heels on new provinces

The session also witnessed a heated exchange over alleged police violence against PTI workers. PTI lawmaker Sajjad Ali alleged that two SHOs had subjected party workers to violence in Karachi, claiming that one worker’s leg had been broken. He warned that the party would “take revenge with interest” from the police officers concerned.

The house also took up the Christian Family Law Bill 2026, introduced by Deputy Speaker Anthony Naveed, who described it as a historic measure brought before the assembly after 150 years. He appealed to the opposition to support the legislation and expressed a desire for it to be introduced and referred to a committee for further consideration.

The speaker referred the bill to the relevant standing committee.

The question hour could not proceed normally amid the disruption. During the proceedings, MQM’s Taha Ahmed continued speaking while his party colleagues refrained from asking supplementary questions. The speaker even offered to change Ahmed’s seat if there was a problem with it, while repeatedly asking MQM members to sit down and let the question hour continue.

Separately, PTI’s Sajjad Ali moved a resolution seeking an insurance policy for government teachers, with benefits for families in case of a teacher’s death during service.

The assembly session was eventually adjourned until 2pm on Wednesday.