In Pakistan, MQM-P protests over resolution against ‘Sindhudesh’
In Karachi, Pakistan, lawmakers from the opposition Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan (MQM-P) staged a protest in the Sindh Provincial Assembly after the speaker did not allow a resolution against the separatist Sindhudesh movement to be introduced. Dawn reports.
Assembly Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah, using discretionary powers, did not allow MQM-P parliamentary party deputy leader Taha Ahmed to present the resolution. After that, MQM-P lawmakers gathered in front of the speaker’s rostrum and chanted “Sindhudesh Na Manzoor,” while consideration of agenda items continued.
Protest in the assembly
The protest began when the speaker invited MQM-P lawmaker Aamir Siddiqui to present an adjournment motion. Siddiqui refused to speak, and his party colleagues began chanting slogans. The speaker called on lawmakers to maintain order, but the chanting did not stop.
During the protest, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar presented an audit report to the assembly. After the scheduled agenda was completed, the speaker adjourned the sitting until Monday. Representatives of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party and Jamaat-e-Islami were not present in the chamber during the escalation.
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Opposition Leader Ali Khurshidi accused the Pakistan Peoples Party government of arrogance and biased treatment for refusing to consider the resolution. Taha Ahmed said that MQM-P opposes all separatist movements and has already submitted a formal resolution against Sindhudesh and other separatist movements to the assembly secretariat. He also claimed that supporters of the Sindhudesh ideology were on the benches of the parliamentary majority.
Water supply issue
During question hour, Sindh Chief Minister’s Adviser on Settlements Najmi Alam said that only settlements established before 2011 would be eligible for legalization and lease rights. Newer settlements would be considered illegal encroachments.
Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Qasim Siraj Soomro said that water is supplied to Karachi on a 12-hour schedule. He was responding to Aamir Siddiqui’s inquiry about water shortages in Adam Colony and Soldier Bazaar. According to Soomro, Adam Colony’s water requirement is approximately three to five million gallons per day, while no water supply payments are received from the area.
