Dialectal dilemma: Assembly wants all four provincial languages upgraded to national status

Sindhi literature board and power utilities come under criticism during Tuesday's session.

KARACHI:

The Sindh Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution recommending the Sindh government to approach the federal government to declare the four languages of the provinces — Sindhi, Punjabi, Balochi and Pushto — as national languages.

Moving the resolution, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional MPA Mehtab Akbar Rashidi said that Sindh has a rich culture and history. "Before partition, Sindhi was considered a national language but unfortunately, this is no longer the case," said Rashidi. "Sindhi is considered a national language in India but not in Pakistan."

After the proposal, everyone wanted to speak on the issue and members of all major parties voted in favour of the resolution. "Our party had also taken this initiative in the parliament but it was not taken seriously," said Sindh parliamentary affairs minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro, referring to the resolution moved by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA Nawab Yousuf Talpur in the National Assembly.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Khalid Ahmed suggested the inclusion of the Hazara and Seraiki languages. PPP's Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani was of the view that due to the emotional attachment that people have with their mother tongue, all regional languages should be given this status immediately. "During the British tenure, Sindhi was the official language of the province.  No doubt Urdu is our national language, but the same status must also be afforded to Sindhi and other languages."

PPP's Imdad Pitafi also remarked that Pakistan will become a feeble state if it did not recognise the rights of all four provinces. "People in various parts of the world have started the struggle to preserve their culture," he said.

During the session, Sindh Assembly also adopted a motion to ensure that Sindhi must be taught in private and public schools as well as in all colleges in the province.

PA adopts 15 resolutions

As the session started, the deputy speaker Shehla Raza, who was presiding over the session where as many as 15 resolutions were passed, said, "Every Tuesday we don't consider the agendas submitted by our members. Today, I will listen to all proposals," she said. The whole assembly echoed with the thumping of desks.  Two bills - mandatory DNA testing law for rape victims and the consumer protection - were also introduced.

Sindhi Adabi Board

The performance of the Sindhi Adabi (literature) Board was also questioned during the assembly session. Raza alleged that the chairman and the secretary, along with other people on senior posts, have been appointed against the rules. "As per the rules, the education minister should be the chairperson of this board, but the revenue minister heads it," she said, adding that for the last couple of month, not a single board of governors' meeting has been held. In response, Dr Mandhro assured he would take up this issue.

Unannounced load-shedding

The performance of the Water and Power Development Authority and its subsidiary companies working in Sindh also came under fire as education minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro moved a resolution against unannounced load-shedding.

MQM leader Khalid Ahmed criticised K-Electric which, according to him, is looting the consumers in the name of excessive billing.

MPAs favour operation against militants

The Sindh Assembly, while expressing solidarity with law Enforcement agencies, adopted a resolution in support of armed action against militants.

The session, which was presided over by Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza, demanded the federal government to establish its writ by force, if necessary. The resolution was moved by opposition leader Faisal Subzwari. In a stirring speech, Subzwari said that extremists are tarnishing the image of Pakistan and of Islam. Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon supported the resolution and dubbed all militancy supporters as traitors.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Khurrum Sher Zaman supported the resolution but requested the members to refrain from linking this resolution to only one group.  "Certain political parties have militant wings that kill innocent civilians," he claimed. "I demand that action is also taken against these political parties." Later, the house unanimously passed the resolution.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2014.