KARACHI, April 8: Leader of the opposition in Sindh Assembly, Nisar Khuhro on Friday asked the government to reverse what he termed as anti-Sindh decision of fragmenting Hyderabad to suit the major stake holder in the ruling coalition.
Addressing a news conference along with Hyderabad Nazim Dr Rafiquzzaman and others, Mr Khuhro claimed that chief minister Arbab Rahim’s claim that he had taken the decision after consulting representatives of the people “was a pack of lies” because neither district nor tehsil nazims made such a demand.
“It is a naked pre-election rigging and the decision to meet the demand of the major coalition partner will open Pandora’s Box of confrontation and acrimony to the advantage of those who are not friends of the people of Sindh,” he said.
Mr Khuhro asked party supporters to get them registered and obtain national identity cards to frustrate government’s efforts to stifle the voice of dissent.
He claimed that decision about Hyderabad was a deliberate attack on undermining the historical and cultural significance of the city which had also been in the forefront of struggle against one unit for the status of Sindhi language.
Mr Khuhro said that the move was to unseat PPP-backed district and tehsil nazims to the advantage of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and other protégé of the regime.
It was not a demand of the majority of the people except government and its allies including the MQM, Irfan Magsi and others. The beneficiary of the bifurcation would be the MQM; he said adding that it was an old demand of that party. He claimed that governor Sindh consulted all the non-Sindhi MNAs/ MPAs
He apprehended that Hyderabad would be turned into another hub of hatred between the two segments of population. It would be solely counted as another city occupied by the non-locals, he said.
Mr Khuhro claimed that under the new scheme Tando Allahyar had been gifted to Dr Irfan Gul Magsi (MPA), Tando Mohammad Khan had been gifted to the family of Mir Aijaz Talpur, and Matiari to Jamots.
The Sindh chief minister had on April 4 announced four new districts out of Hyderabad that would now comprise of Hyderabad, Matiari, Tando Allahyar and Tando Mohammad Khan.
This was done despite widespread protest against the bifurcation of Larkana and killing of four people who were agitating on the name of new district ie Qambar or Shahdadkot.
Mr Khuhro said that at a time when there was a need to cut down non-development expenditure, the government decision would result in additional annual expenditure to the tune of Rs2.2 billion on the expenses of four districts
Accusing the government of double standards he asked that why the demand of people calling for the restoration of the Malir district which existed before the year 2000 was not being met.
Tracing historical significance of Hyderabad Mr Khuhro said that second largest district and city with more than 2million population had been a bastion of excellence and struggles and resistance since decades be that the struggle to restore “ Sindhi Language” in 1967, anti-One Unit struggle (1958-1970) and Hari Movement.
The areas, historic events and happenings, text related to previous Hyderabad areas would be changed and the action would cast negative spell about the armed forces because the present dispensation was headed by General Pervez Musharraf.
He said that it was an aid to linguistic forces.
To a question Mr Khuhro said that despite government’s measures the PPP would take part in the local body and other elections.
