The Sindh Assembly has strongly rejected any plan or proposal to divide the province. On Thursday, lawmakers passed a clear resolution against altering Sindh’s territorial boundaries or creating new administrative units, even as the MQM-P boycotted the session.
PPP lawmaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro moved the resolution after several days of discussion. A total of 137 members took part in the debate. The resolution referred to Article 239(4) of the Constitution, which states that no change to a province’s limits can go to the President without a two-thirds majority approval from that province’s assembly. The House made it clear that it will not give consent to any such move.
The assembly declared that Sindh is one and will remain one. It rejected any idea of separating districts, divisions or regions from the province or placing any part under federal control. All existing regions, the resolution said, form an integral and inseparable part of Sindh. The House also called on the federal government, Parliament and all political parties to respect the democratic will of the people of Sindh.
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah defended the province’s historic identity. He reminded the House that Sindh joined Pakistan as a single united province and that its territorial integrity cannot be changed against the will of its people. He criticised contradictory statements by some parties that publicly oppose division while suggesting separate governance structures for different parts of the province.
Opposition leader Ali Khurshidi from MQM-P strongly criticised the ruling party before walking out. He accused the PPP of using emotional issues to hide poor governance and said Karachi continues to suffer from serious administrative problems. Khurshidi clarified that his party supports decentralisation and local autonomy, not the division of the province.
The resolution will be sent to the President, Prime Minister, Senate Chairman and National Assembly Speaker so that Sindh’s official position is placed on the national record. The assembly’s firm stand once again highlights the sensitivity of any discussion about changing provincial boundaries in Pakistan.
