‘Form 47’ ministers can’t decide nation’s fate: Sharjeel Inam Memon

Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon has lashed out at federal ministers commenting on the creation of new provinces, accusing them of being products of Form 47 and questioning their electoral mandate.

Speaking during a session of the Sindh Assembly, Memon also complained that the federal government was neglecting Sindh and failing to treat the province fairly.

Memon said those lecturing others on the 18th Amendment were themselves “products of Form 47”. He argued that people sitting in office on what he described as an artificial or charitable mandate could not make decisions on behalf of the nation.

He warned federal ministers against assuming that holding positions of power made them the ultimate authority on every issue.

“Do not think that sitting in the chair of power makes you all-knowing,” Memon said.

The provincial minister said that if Mustafa Kamal, Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif or anyone else had concerns over the issue of new provinces or constitutional matters, they should raise them in Parliament.

Memon maintained that major national decisions should be taken by representatives chosen directly by the people through elections. He challenged federal ministers to seek a direct electoral mandate before making decisions or statements concerning the provinces.

He also criticised what he described as unequal treatment of Sindh by the federal government. Memon said the Centre was developing motorways in Punjab while Sindh was facing what he called discrimination in various matters.

His remarks came amid renewed political debate over the possible creation of new provinces and the distribution of powers between the Centre and the provinces under the 18th Constitutional Amendment.