KARACHI, July 9: The Sindh Democratic Alliance (SDA) believes in greater provincial autonomy within the framework of the federation, said Imtiaz Shaikh, member steering committee of the SDA, while speaking to members of the Karachi Bar Association (KBA) here on Tuesday.

“We don’t believe in the politics of divide but want a powerful autonomous province,” he declared.

He said we are starting off as an alliance at the provincial level, but it would expand to the national level.

The SDA was striving to secure the interests and rights of the people of Sindh and was working for unity among all sections of the population. That was the reason behind the success of the SDA which had emerged as an alternative platform changing the entire political scenario of Sindh, Mr Shaikh said.

People were thronging to join the SDA rank and file, he said, adding the Alliance got a tremendous response in Karachi.

“Our Alliance has a complete programme for the development of Karachi, and other urban and rural areas without any discrimination,” he said.

About the proposed constitutional amendments, he said the SDA supported the amendments that banned the election of any person as prime minister and chief minister for the third term.

However, he said, the SDA was of the view that the issue of amendments be left for parliament.

Answering a question, he claimed that the National Security Council existed in the constitution of Pakistan since 1985 and Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif ruled under it twice.

Iftikhar Javed Qazi, the President of the KBA sought the SDA chief’s help for allotment of land at the old Sabzimandi or at the Central Prison for a judicial complex.—APP