Sindh will not be divided, decision rests with assembly: Murad Ali Shah

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah declared on Monday that Sindh province would not be divided, emphasizing that the decision to divide the province would be made by the Sindh Assembly itself, not by businessmen from Lahore. Shah cautioned that if any member of the assembly were to bring a resolution for division, he or she would face the consequences, as long as one member remained alive.

During a session of the Sindh Assembly, Shah stated that the debate would take place in the assembly, and no one would decide on division through television or rallies. The PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had earlier stated that they would follow the wishes of the people, so a debate and a possible resolution on the matter would be necessary.

Shah also mentioned that some people had previously spoken in favor of Sindh's division during a previous assembly session. However, he stressed that Sindh would always remain united. In the past, the assembly had passed several resolutions against Sindh's division in 1948, 2000, 2014, 2019, and 2026. Sharjeel Inam Memon, Sindh Senior Minister, rejected remarks by Health Minister and MQM-P leader Mustafa Kamal, accusing him of attempting to reignite politics based on hatred, division, and ethnic differences. Memon assured that such attempts would be rejected by the people again.

Earlier, Kamal claimed that the PPP-led government had not recognized the existence of new migrants in Pakistan and maintained that the 27 amendments were introduced to strengthen the constitution, not to divide it. Memon responded by stating that efforts to create a divide between urban and rural populations had failed before and would again be rejected by the people.

He further emphasized that the PPP aimed to remove "walls of hatred" and promote peace, development, and brotherhood, while its opponents sought to perpetuate division for their political gain.

Kamal argued that the proposal for new administrative units in Sindh aimed to give residents greater political control over their affairs. Farooq Sattar, an MQM-P leader, supported the division proposal, arguing that it was essential for Pakistan's survival, development, and stability. However, Sindh Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah criticized the MQM-P's demand for new provinces and administrative units, asserting that Sindh would not be divided and that the Muttahida would be divided if it persisted in its demands.