‘Wahdat-i-Sindh’ rally vows to resist moves to divide province

Karachi witnessed a large scale rally on Sunday, as political figures, human rights advocates, intellectuals, lawyers, and members of civil society marched from Regal Chowk to the Karachi Press Club in solidarity with the Sindh United Party (SUP) and Sindh United Lawyers Forum (SULF). The "Wahdat-i-Sindh March" was organized to combat any perceived conspiracy to divide Sindh and create new provinces or administrative units.

Led by SUP Senior Vice President Roshan Ali Buriro, the protesters emphasized that Sindh's geographical and administrative unity was not merely a line on a map, but a complex tapestry of history, geography, culture, and politics. They firmly rejected any attempt to alter Sindh's boundaries, regardless of the pretext or name used.

Buriro argued that the unity of Sindh was under threat from plans aimed at controlling the province's land, water, and natural resources. He criticized proposed new canals from the Indus River, stating that they should be abandoned entirely instead of merely postponed. He stressed that the people of Sindh would not accept any compromises on their water rights.

Advocate Ameer Azad Panhwar, in his remarks, clarified that the campaign for Sindh's unity was not directed against any specific language-speaking community. He emphasized that every citizen who considered Sindh their home was an equal inhabitant of the province and had a vested interest in safeguarding its peace, unity, and constitutional rights.

The speakers referenced the Pakistan Resolution, arguing that its federal principle and the concept of provincial autonomy could not be disregarded. They highlighted that Pakistan was a federation whose strength stemmed from constitutional supremacy, provincial autonomy, mutual respect, and equitable resource distribution. They cautioned that undermining Sindh's administrative and geographical unity could have ramifications for the broader federal structure of the country.

The protesters demanded that the government refrain from any moves to alter Sindh's geographical boundaries or establish new administrative units within the province. They also called for legal action against those allegedly involved in efforts to divide Sindh.