As soon as MQM`s chief Altaf Hussain talked about the new province
for Urban Sindh, there erupted a lava of severe critics against him. Most of the
political parties, anchorpersons and the intellectuals not only altogether
rejected his statement, but also considered it as a conspiracy against Pakistan.
Not speaking of the Sindhi nationalists, but also the PPP`s chairman, Bilawal
Bhutto Zardari gave a clear message to Altaf Hussain that he would sacrifice
his life but would not give Sindh to “others“ (Marsoon Marsoon Sindh Na Deson).
However, none of the critics has yet referred to any clause of the constitution
or the prevailing laws that prohibit forming a new province in Sindh.
It was also very surprising to see opposition on this matter from the
parties which had been politically supporting new provinces in the country
including Hazara and South Punjab/Siraiki Provinces. Not only that, they had
also made this a part of their manifestos. In this context, previous PPP
government declared Gilgit Baltistan as a new provincial unit. Considering all
this, how can forming a new province or administrative unit be opposed in Sindh?
Although almost all the political as well as religious parties have rejected
division of Sindh, none of them could explain why this was wrong? Whether it was
against the Constitution of Pakistan, prevailing laws, Islamic principles or
ethics??
The Articles 238 and 239 of the constitution of Pakistan allow
formation of new provinces in the country. According to them, a bill would be
presented in the provincial assembly of the concerned province which must be
passed by 2/3rd majority. If so passed then the bill must also be passed by the
two houses of the parliament by again 2/3rd majority. If passed, creation of
the province would take place. In other words, there is no constitutional
hindrance in forming new provinces in Pakistan.
Following
the same, in September 2013, PTI submitted a resolution with the Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Secretariat asking the federal government to create Hazara
province by making relevant amendment to the Constitution. The PTI`s resolution
said, “Creation of Hazara province is the democratic, constitutional and
political right of the people of Hazara” The draft resolution further
stated, ‘Therefore, this assembly requests the federal government to add the
word Hazara after Sindh; in Article 1 (2) (a) of the Constitution”.
This
resolution clearly indicates two very important aspects: First, demanding a new
province is the democratic, constitutional and political right of the people
concerned and, for this purpose, necessary constitutional amendments can also
be made. Secondly, a new province can be demanded also on the basis of
ethnicity or language, because Hazara is an ethnically based community and its
language and culture are different from the Pashtuns. Since Hazara community
consider themselves different from the Pashtuns, they expressed their annoyance
on naming NWFP as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Taking
into account all these things, how can a new province be legally and logically
opposed in any part of the country especially Sindh whether it is on
administrative basis or ethnic grounds? Moreover, if the critics keep rejecting
the possibility of a new province, will the people of Urban Sindh not ask why
they do not the same democratic, constitutional and political right to demand a
province for them like the people of Hazara?? Then, how will the opponents
satisfy them? It also should be kept in mind that MQM and its leader has not
demanded a separate province or division in Sindh yet. What Mr. Hussain has
actually asked is to remove all the discriminatory laws and policies including
the Quota system and to equally treat the people pertaining to all communities
including the Urdu speaking. Frankly speaking, what MQM`s Quaid has demanded is
also required by the Constitution of Pakistan. Then, why not to listen to his
voice?
It is on
record that the Muslims of the undivided India did not get Pakistan by
physically defeating the non-Muslim majority and the British Empire. Rather,
they got a separate piece of land for them under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam
Muhammad Ali Jinnah through a political and legal struggle. For instance, if
the Hindu and the Sikh had decided to oppose the division of their country by
terming it as their “Mata” (mother), or had they required All India Muslim
League to prove the 2/3rd majority in the parliament, would the
Muslims have got Pakistan in that case? The very important fact is, when the
Hindus, Sikh and the British Empire somehow allowed the division of India for
an entirely independent country for the Muslims, can the Pakistani Muslims not
accommodate a new province or an administrative unit for their own Muslim
brothers within the country? Did we set any good example in 1971 when our
Bengali Muslims got independence from us after the historic bloodshed? Could
their grievances not have been resolved on the table constitutionally?
All these
facts relate to the division of Sindh. But, the fact is that division of Sindhi
is not the actual demand from MQM. Preferably, Altaf Hussain has invited the relevant
parties and the concerned authorities to sit on a table in order to remove the
grievances of the Urdu speaking community. The question is, instead of
pondering over it seriously, why is a positive option being disrespected? How
strange it seems that on one hand, the critics are completely ignoring MQM`s
invitation, and on the other hand, they are opposing any new province in Sindh?
Is such a strategy not closing all the constitutionally possible doors to
address the long pending issues? Will this not eventually pave the way for an
unconstitutional solution to the matter? If such an unwanted scenario emerges,
will any of the people concerned accept responsible for the disaster? May God
save the country from such situation!
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