April 06, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 28, 1429

NAWABSHAH, April 5: Family members of Syed Nawab Shah, after whom the city is named, strongly reacted to a resolution adopted by Sindh Assembly, which proposed renaming the city Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, by staging a demonstration against the move here on Saturday.

Syed Ummaz Shah of Pakistan People’s Party and Syed G.M. Shah, brother and great grandson of Syed Nawab Shah, termed renaming the district an injustice and dishonesty to history.

“The district has a history of more than 100 years. Our great grandfather, Syed Nawab Shah, donated around 600 acres of his land to British rulers for the establishment of the city,” they said, adding the city was raised to the status of a district in 1912.

They said that they had not an iota of doubt that Benazir Bhutto was an international leader and a martyr. “If a district is to be named after her then the government should create a new district or a city to pay her tribute but changing the name of a historical city for the purpose will not be fair,” they remarked.

They said that they would not allow the move as it would be tantamount to playing with history and people’s emotions. They hinted at moving court to seek justice in case the resolution was implemented.

Syed Sher Mohammed Shah, another great grandson of Syed Nawab Shah and a veteran PPP activist said: “I am a party member and have great respect for Shaheed Benazir Bhutto as she is also daughter of Nawabshah after she married to Asif Ali Zardari.” But party leaders did not take him into confidence over the decision and he had contacted party high-ups to urge them to review the decision.

Syed Munir Shah, chairman of District Accounts Committee, also protested against the resolution.

Four of the five MPAs from Nawabshah presented resolution in the assembly and the fifth Syed Fasih Ahmed Shah, who was also maternal great grandson of Syed Nawab Shah, did not become part of the resolution.

He could not be reached for comments.

MPA Ghulam Qadir Chandio, acting president of Nawabshah chapter of PPP defended the resolution and said that it was a great honour for the people.