Addressing PPP lawmakers of the Sindh Assembly, President Zardari said that the government wants to see south Punjab thrive, but some people, including Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Nawaz Sharif have created the new issue of a Mohajir province. He said that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) did not want the division of Sindh and the party has taken a clear stand.
Zardari also criticised Sindhi nationalists for their contacts with the PML-N, and said that Nawaz Sharif was misguiding them.
About the proposal to carve out a separate province in south Punjab, he said, “I once again want to clarify here that it is not an election stunt but based on solid political reasons.”
Sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune that during the meeting, as the president started reviewing the performance of the MPAs in their constituencies, some MPAs complained that PPP ministers were not serious about fixing problems faced by their voters. “Our ministers have no time to meet us and resolve our issues,” Najamuddin Abro said.
He said that whenever they visit provincial ministers they refuse to meet them.
MPA Pitanber Sehwani diverted the president’s attention toward his (Zardari’s) directives issued to the chief minister regarding forced conversion and a five per cent government job quota for minorities. “Sir, I had requested legislation against forced conversion in 2010. You had issued directives to the CM, but all in vain,” he said.
The president formed a four-member committee of Jam Mahtab Dahar, Anwar Mahar, Dr Sikandar Mandhro and Jam Tamachi Unar to hear MPA grievances and present a periodic report on the performance of various ministries.
Zardari touched on the political situation, party policy, the fight against militancy, election reforms, a neutral caretaker set-up, poverty alleviation, the economic situation and Chicago summit. He said Nato supplies would reopen on the recommendation of the defence committee.
Pagara calls on President Zardari
PML-F leader Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi (Pir Pagara) called on President Zardari at Bilawal House and had lunch with him. Minister for Local Government Agha Siraj Durrani accompanied the pir and no other member from his party attended. According to the president’s spokesperson, the current political situation and coalition matters were discussed. Sources said that the president stressed an election alliance with the PML-F. But no decision was made. Pir Pagara invited the president to Kingri House as well. This was a first meeting between President Zardari and Pir Pagara after the death of Shah Mardan Shah (Pir Pagara VII).
Published in The Express Tribune, June 1st, 2012.
COMMENTS (41)
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@Sanwal: Mohajirs left everything they had back In India and chose to live in Pakistan. Unfortunately, since in 1960 Islamabad became pakistans capital Sindhis started this new quota system which would ill treat us mohajirs we couldn't get a job place in a good school, college or a university. If we were equally treated by Sindhis no one would have seen this day. Saying that which reminds me it was this PPP party and Sindhis who ill treated Bangladeshis in the end lost east pakistan. If you really beleive in equality tell your Sindhi brothers to abolish this quota system.
@Juman Darbadar: My dearest are you telling me Islamabad is part of punjab? Just like we can not say Islamabad is situated in PUNJAB exactly like that after the partition Karachi became pakistans capital if you are saying Karachi was part of Indian sindh before the partition on that I can agree with you but unfortunately we are talking about Pakistani sindh. Please read between the lines.
@Sanwal: I wonder even after passage of 60 years they are still Mohajirs! Does this not redound to the credit of the Punjabis, Sindhis, Pathans and Balochis of Pakistan? No one who came as a refugee to India - whether Sindhi, Punjabi, Bengali or Pathan is known as a refugee any longer. They are all Indians of the province in which they now live.
@Shah: Its very unfortunate that our ill-informed friends have no idea the history of Pakistan as well as Sindh. There is need to be aware of when Pakistan came to being and what is history of Karachi, which has been integral part of Sindh since centuries.
Even Sindh having bronze age civilization (Indus valley Civilization) is most popular than Pakistan. You can dig out the history of Sindh in world oldest books like Vedas (Rigveda) ect. But I assure you that you will never ever uncover the word Pakistan in the books.
@Sanwal: We can't be sindhis because 60 years ago Karachi wasn't a part of Sindhi it was Pakistans capital, wish Islamabad was Pakistans capital back then too there wouldn't be these talks going around.
Actually the PPP government dislikes the parallel system having powers at gross root level.
LG system snatches all the financial powers and benefits from elected representatives of provincial assemblies and parliamentarians. The role of the MNAs, the MPAs and the senators will confine to legislation only, which is their preliminary but distinct task.
But unfortunately they are odium to legislation and rather than raising the public interest issue they attach importance to focus on development schemes that involve big money.
Under the LG system the powers will go to gross root level and elected members of the upper and lower houses can only plan/suggest the schemes in their constituencies. The will SIGH looking at their schemes to be implemented by others.
on the other hand a party, the party which owns the metropolitan city look forward to implementing the lucrative LG system having big amount to be bungled and misappropriated. We should appreciated the development work carried out in recent past, but must raise question about anomalies unearthed in billions of rupees during the last ten years.
Hyderabad
Karachiites and Hyderabadis needs Local Body System...
@Sindhvoice
Very true! I don't see how "Muhajir province" will improve law and order in Karachi or help the rest of Sindh.
PPP and MQM are just playing ethnic card to get us to vote for them out of ethnic insecurity because they have failed miserably in governance.
Jeay Sindh! Pakistan Zindabad!
What is the real fuss about all this ! Is land bigger than people ? Is it more important to keep a piece of land or is it more improtant to have a system where Public Services matter ?
Pakistan has too few provinces and too many a people in each province. For the sake of public service, better access to elected and for economic benefits it is essential to have several small administrative units.
There is nothing wrong with having three provinces in Punjab, there is nothing wrong in having two provinces in Balochistan, two in KPK and two in Sind.
I am a punjabi and I support these divisions on the basis of administration and public service !
PML-N wants to sabatoge the just division of Punjab by raising the issue of the Mohajir province. Punjab needs to be divided if Pakistan is to survive. Its imperative.
@fus: yes, MNC should give based on MERIT, I agree but in last Mushraf Govt, MQM got this resolution passed from Assembly that only people from Karachi domicile can get jobs in MNC. Isnt it quota? get it reversed and abolish seat reservation in Karachi, Dow, NED universities, then demand same rights for you. If it suits u, it's all well and otherwise not. LOLX
@ Mehran -- why should MNC give jobs for free why not on Merit? Go and get educated and then talk. Always want shortcuts, that is the problem. Quota system has made you Lazy, work hard and you will get rewarded. Go to the airport and see how many Sindhi Jiyala have beed accomodated in PIA by ignoring Merit, that is exaclty why PIA is in such a bad shape. During Zia and Nawaz Sharif, it was free for everyone from Punjab and now Sindh. Why can't you raise voice for Merit?
@Sameer: Bro, Pls before criticizing us, ask this same question to your law makers first. A unanimous resolution was passed in Punjab Assembly in favor of new provinces. Am I right? We Sindhis are not members of Punjab Assembly!! You MUST ask your representatives. Secondly, It's your choice to either let Punjab divide or not, we have no business with it. Who are we to support division of Punjab or not. It is solely decision of people of Punjab. All nationalist parties, civil society, Sindhi media are clear on this aspect. Last but not least, Historically, Bahwalpur was made part of Punjab after dissolution of One unit. Earlier, It was never part of Punjab. And story is not different for other Siraiki regions. However, there is no region annexed to Sindh.
@Sindhvoice: Sheer double standards and nothing else. The parties of Sindh are supporting the division of Punjab while they are saying that people are living peacrfully in Sindh so they cannot be divided??? So why Sindhis have double standard for Punjab where people are living together for centuries and in more harmony than Sindh.
For seventy five years the Mohajirs have sufferred like faceless destitutes in Sindh. It is time that they are given a home so that they feel as proud Pakistanis.
@Jawad: I second your opinion, if any party wins majority seats in provincial Assembly, they have right to nominate any one as CM Sindh. About quote system, should we not start it from Karachi, Dow, NED university, there r hardly few seats of rural Sindh. Governor is chancellor and he should set an example by abolishing such seat reservations and MNC's open doors for rural Sindhi graduates as well.
@Sanwal: @Juman Okay Sanwal .. stop discrimination please !! .. from no onwards no quota system .. its un-islamic and un-ethical .. all are Sindhis and resultantly all equal .. right?? .. thats what you want .. and from now onwards no opposition to an urdu speaking chief minister, IF and When ..there comes a situation .. no opposition on the basis of his mother tounge ! .. I swear upon God that I consider myself a sindhi .. an urdu speaking sindhi .. Sindh is my home .. if Sindh does not get enough funds, even i suffer .. interests of Sindh are also very dear to me .. but from now onwards no more discrimination .. Please brace yourself for merit now ..
Since centuries, Sindh has been welcoming flocks of immigrants with open arms and they all become true sons of soil. Majority of Urdu speaking and Sindhi speaking people of Sindh are living side by side with peace, we all have same problems related to economic insecurity, law & order, and basic needs of daily living. These are major issues, we should focus on and evaluate current PPP-MQM govt on their performance. We hold them accountable for their wrong doings. We should NOT let them fool us in the name of hate, and division. We all have to live in Sindh and this is our home, a motherland. Through unity and struggle, we can force MQM-PPP alliance to change their policies towards us, we want prosperity, peace, justice and liberty. Let's unite against politics of hate, division and violence. let's live like a brother.
@Ammad Hafeez: you people are in government since 10 years and still you are deprived. strange...... this is just for Local Government elections and other benefits nothing else.
Sorry ET but your comments section has turned into a competition amongst conspiracy theorists with the ones presenting the gloomiest theory getting the most hits. Until a few months ago it used to be a very exciting and open and educated, minded forum. No offence intended.
What's the fuss with Mohajir Province. Mohajir Province is the need of the hour. It's the voice of deprived people.
I pity on those people of Pakistan who voted for our today's so-called "leaders".. How unfortunate and unlucky we are..
Shameless leaders.. Shameless democracy..
I wonder even after passage of 60 years they are still Mohajirs! Please try to be Sindhies if you are living in Sindh. As a whole your are Pakistanis, but please try to be Punjabis, Pakhtoon and Balochs while living in three other units of Pakistan.
Mohajirs are an important part of Pakistan. We have made karachi what it is and not what the so called 'son of the soils'. We will get Mohajir province one day with Karachi and Hyderabad. Just wait and see what we do.
@Juman Darbadar
Bro! The attitude and hatred you have shown against a community will certainly divide Sindh sooner or later.
People who dont want a division of Sindh need to calm down and respect each others IF THEY REALY DONT WANT SINDH TO BE DIVIDED.
@ijazmir: “On behalf of the leader of MQM, Altaf Hussain, I condemn the people who are trying to divide Sindh,” he said. “My party stands for Sindh’s unity.” (Reference: Tribune, Today (Farooq Sattar)
Is this Politics or have they been paid?
@Juman Darbadar: This is just a begining of the end. Your sindhi president has started this fire, now you will have to face it. There will be a division for sindh.... sooner or later.
just wait and see.
Creating a separate province will only draw clearer lines between groups. It'll become the defining example/proof (to them) that separation is the only way to live together (ironically). Just like the two nation theory.
Separate provinces have their place and use. But they can exacerbate and solidify differences/stubbornness, too.
Very very true, Jeay Sindh @Juman Darbadar:
@salar Khan: @Juman Darbadar: The authors of all this national-wide fuss are few well known elites, for their self-interest, lack of true leadership, absence of foresight. It looks the seeds of he chaos have been sown.
After every thirty kilometer or so, there is a change in dialect of people, dressing style, local customs ertc. Door are now open for any unscruplous personality to start chanting slogens against neighboring brothern on ficticious ground, and claim separate province. There are some national leaders, on the other side of the lane, who are wisely advising that creation/division of provinces should be based on 'administration reasons', and not ethenic.
These shameless evil bunch of SOBs have never come close to consciences. Dividing Punjab is a national interest while dividing Sindh or KPK is a revenge.
Bec its about history and culture. Seriaki People are not Punjabis to remain in Punjab, this has been the case since hundreds of years not just 60 to 70 years. Muhajirs are a part of Sindh. hence no call for a province could be called for!
well noon league is much smarter than i thought.
@ juman dardadar.. very nice insight gentleman...
OK We change the name if you are allergic to Mahajor name ,we will call Karachi province New provinces are good for Pakistan. I also suggest Karachi to be declare as free port .This is also in favor of better economy.New 16 provinces will bring better control development in the country. Not for getting Saraiki votes only.
What a standard... making provinces in Punjab is not division, but making provinces in Sindh is a division..
@Juman Darbadar: very true bro... u are right
If Punjab is going to divide into three parts then why Not Sindh??
Mohajir province fiasco will now come to an end as the terrorists who had started the campaign for their tired interest have succeeded in getting their demand of acquiring funds for upcoming fiscal budget and assurance on the part of government to hold Local government elections. Otherwise, no one will let a few to create Mohajir province because latter should ideology live in campus rather than sham demand of a new province.
Jeay Sindh