KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly has unanimously approved a resolution rejecting any moves to establish additional provinces or administrative units within the province. The resolution was presented by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, who emphasized the importance of maintaining Sindh’s territorial integrity.
The session saw intense discussions, with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah warning that any attempt to divide Sindh would be unacceptable. He highlighted that the assembly should be the primary forum for discussing issues related to the province’s territorial and administrative structure, criticizing debates happening outside the legislative body.
During the proceedings, Shah explained that while administrative divisions such as districts and zones could be expanded within existing constitutional powers, the creation of new provinces with separate legislatures and governance structures would fundamentally alter Sindh’s political landscape. He pointed out that the government had already increased the number of divisions from three to seven, and districts in Karachi had doubled from three to seven, underscoring ongoing administrative decentralization.
Shah also clarified that proposals for new provinces gained momentum after discussions at a seminar in Lahore, but he criticized political leaders for discussing such issues publicly rather than within the assembly. He referred to statements by MQM leaders Mustafa Kamal, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and Farooq Sattar, who advocate for empowering existing administrative units, warning that giving each unit separate political and executive powers could lead to the formal creation of new provinces.
The Chief Minister stressed that population growth alone should not justify dividing Sindh and that decisions should be rooted in ground realities and administrative needs. Recalling Sindh’s historic role in Pakistan’s creation, Shah reiterated that the province has consistently opposed division, citing resolutions passed in the past.
Opposition Leader Ali Khursheedi echoed concerns about division, emphasizing that his party, MQM, opposes any such move. He called for a united stance within the assembly and suggested that the focus should be on effective devolution of powers to existing divisions instead of creating new provinces. Khursheedi also highlighted that empowering Sindh’s six existing divisions as administrative units could improve local governance and resource allocation.
The debate revealed underlying tensions between the ruling and opposition benches, with MQM members walking out after disagreements over the resolution. Shah criticized the walkout, urging opposition members to express their opposition through actions, not just words.
The session concluded with the passage of the resolution, reaffirming Sindh’s stance against the division of the province. The assembly was adjourned until tomorrow afternoon, with further discussions expected.
