‘Sindh is one, shall remain one’: Sindh Assembly unanimously rejects proposals to divide province

It described Sindh as a “historic, civilisational and constitutional entity” whose identity and territorial continuity extended over centuries, and recalled that the province had entered Pakistan as a distinct and undivided province.

The resolution also highlighted Sindh’s role in the creation of Pakistan, noting that the Sindh Legislative Assembly was the first provincial legislature of British India to adopt a resolution in support of the establishment of Pakistan on March 3, 1943.

It further recalled that at a special sitting on June 26, 1947, the assembly passed a resolution declaring that Sindh would join the newly created Pakistan as a constituent state. The house said the people of Sindh had repeatedly expressed, through their elected representatives, their determination to preserve the unity and territorial integrity of the province.

It noted that the assembly had previously adopted resolutions in 1948, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2019 and, most recently, on Feb 21, affirming the unity and territorial integrity of Sindh and rejecting attempts to divide the province or detach any part of it.

The resolution said the Constitution established a federal system based on the autonomy, integrity and constitutional rights of the federating units.

It referred specifically to Article 239(4), which provides that a constitutional amendment that would alter the limits of a province cannot be presented to the president for assent unless it has been passed by the provincial assembly concerned by at least two-thirds of its total membership.

The house “unequivocally” rejected any proposal, plan, scheme or constitutional arrangement seeking to divide Sindh, alter its existing territorial limits or create a new province out of its territory. It also rejected any plan to detach any district, division, region or territory from Sindh or place any part of the province under a separate or federal administrative arrangement.

The resolution declared that “Sindh is one and shall remain one” and that every district, division and region currently forming part of the province were integral and inseparable parts of it.

The assembly reaffirmed that it would not consent to any alteration of Sindh’s territorial limits and would exercise its constitutional authority under Article 239(4) to safeguard the province’s unity and territorial integrity.

It also called for the constitutional rights and integrity of all federating units to be respected, saying any discussion on restructuring the federation should take place strictly within the framework of the Constitution, democratic consent and the will of the people concerned.

The resolution called upon the federal government, Parliament, political parties and state institutions to respect the “clearly and repeatedly expressed democratic will” of the people of Sindh and their elected provincial assembly and refrain from initiating, supporting or entertaining any proposal that would alter the territorial integrity of the province.

It further said Sindh’s unity and territorial integrity transcended party politics, adding that the house stood united in safeguarding the province’s historic, constitutional and territorial identity through peaceful, democratic and constitutional means. As many as 105 PPP lawmakers were present in the house and stood on their benches after the resolution was passed.

They also raised banners carrying the slogan “Sindh Dharti Maa” (Sindh, the motherland) inside the assembly. Earlier, speaking before tabling the resolution, Khuhro criticised opposition lawmakers for staging a walkout. “When it is time for voting, they walk out,” he said, adding that they had “run away with their tails between their legs”.

He said those who wanted Sindh to be divided had to live in Sindh. “What greater betrayal and hypocrisy towards Sindh can there be?” he asked. Khuhro said the resolution had been presented eight times, but its opponents could not say even once in practical terms that “Sindh is mother”.

He said there was a race among the MQM leadership, recalling that when there was only MQM, its founder had turned it into Muttahida. He added that MQM-Haqiqi had also been formed and its members had demanded a southern province.

Khuhro said federal ministers had stated that new provinces would have to be created, while the planning minister had said there should be 18 provinces. “When such statements come, the idea of a motion to adjourn came to mind,” he said.

He said if he had brought the resolution at the beginning of the session, the opposition would have complained that it had not been given an opportunity. The Sindh Assembly session was adjourned until 2:30pm on Friday.