Sindh Assembly firmly rejects Sindh division

The Sindh Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution opposing any division of Sindh into separate provinces.

The resolution was moved by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmaker Nisar Khuhro.

Speaking during the session, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said he had urged opposition lawmakers to work together on a joint resolution. He said Khuhro had prepared the draft while keeping the assembly’s rules in consideration.

Murad said the opposition had proposed including the creation of new administrative units in the resolution. However, he argued that linking administrative units with the fundamental issue of dividing Sindh was inappropriate.

He said a separate resolution could have been introduced if the opposition wanted to debate the creation of administrative units.

The chief minister added that the government supported proposals to strengthen local governments and was willing to take further measures in this regard.

Murad said the opposition had been asked to bring a separate resolution on administrative units or local governments. Instead, opposition lawmakers walked out of the assembly rather than agreeing to a joint resolution.

He accused the opposition of demonstrating bad faith by refusing to support the joint resolution.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has warned the National Assembly against discussing any proposal to divide Sindh, saying even parliament does not have the constitutional authority to make such a decision.

Speaking in the Sindh Assembly, Murad said no new province should be created in Sindh and that the matter must be decided by the provincial assembly. He said the proceedings would reveal who genuinely opposed the division of Sindh and who was taking contradictory positions.

The chief minister criticised what he described as double standards within the opposition. He referred to statements by Mustafa Kamal in favour of creating administrative units while opposition members in the Sindh Assembly were opposing the division of the province.

Murad said the opposition leader had delivered a speech and left the assembly. He questioned the MQM’s position, saying its members could not claim to oppose the division of Sindh while supporting proposals for administrative units.

He said the debate over new provinces and administrative units had intensified at the political level after a federal minister spoke in Lahore in favour of creating new provinces and administrative units. Murad maintained that the issue had not been initiated by PPP lawmaker Nisar Khuhro and that the Sindh Assembly was the proper forum to decide the matter.

The chief minister said the opposition’s proposed motion also contained references to administrative units. He argued that the distinction between administrative units and the creation of new provinces needed a clear political debate.

Murad said the day’s proceedings would make it clear which lawmakers genuinely stood against the division of Sindh. He said their positions on the floor of the house would also expose those holding what he called a double position on the issue.

Referring to history, Murad recalled the events surrounding the partition of British India in 1947. He said the partition plan had been sent to the assemblies, including the Sindh Assembly, which held a special session on June 26 and passed a resolution supporting separation.

He recalled the words of the speaker at the time, who said Sindh was at the forefront of the creation of Pakistan.

Murad also criticised opposition lawmakers for speaking against the division of Sindh and then leaving the assembly. He specifically referred to MQM lawmaker Ali Khurshidi’s statement opposing the division before his departure.

The chief minister also questioned the differing positions within the MQM. He said Mustafa Kamal’s call for administrative units appeared inconsistent with the party’s position against dividing Sindh.

Murad further criticised the historical One Unit system, saying it was wrong at the time and remained wrong today. He argued that the assembly that approved the One Unit proposal did not represent the people of Sindh.

He said opposition lawmakers changed their positions after members of the government began speaking in the assembly. Murad argued that if the opposition had been sincere in its stated position, its members would not have walked out.

Provincial Minister Sharjeel Memon criticised the opposition’s walkout, saying it was an excuse to leave the assembly. He added that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had also boycotted the session, while PPP lawmakers remained present.

The Sindh Assembly session was later adjourned until 2:30pm on Friday.