BADIN: A large number of activists of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, PML-Functional, Sindh Taraqqi-pasand Party, Qaumi Awami Tehreek, Sindh United Party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz took out a rally and held a demonstration in Golarchi town on Saturday, kicking off a joint movement against the creation of new division Bhambhore.

The protesters staged a sit-in on the Badin-Karachi highway at Shaheed Fazil Rahu Chowk for three hours, where their leaders addressed them.

PML-N leader and convener of the Save the Badin Action Committee Ismail Rahu said the new division was against the wishes of people. “The decision had been made in drawing rooms without taking the common man into confidence,” he said.

He said that they were not against the creation of new administrative units but they were protesting against the government’s ill-intentions. Similar demonstrations would be held in all taluka headquarters of Badin district against the decision, he said.

Mr Rahu said that more than 20 political and social parties with the support of people would never allow rulers to dole out big cities to their coalition partners as gifts.

He invited Badin’s elected representatives of the Pakistan Peoples Party to join their protest, as according to him, their struggle was in favour of people and not for scoring points.

Syed Sikandar Ali Shah, president of the PML-F Badin chapter, said that squandering energies and money on the creation of a new division instead of launching projects which benefited the public would only add to people’s troubles. The functionaries of the government needed to review the decision, he said.

Taj Mohammad Mallah, a firebrand leader of traders’ association, rejected outright the decision and said that people had much at stake in Hyderabad which had always been the economic hub of central Sindh.

Mr Shahnawaz Sial of Sindh Taraqqi-pasand Party said that creation of a new division was a great conspiracy against Sindh and its people.

Jakhro Nohani of the Qaumi Awami Tehrik said the new division comprising nine talukas of the coastal belt of Thatta, Sujawal and Badin was a step towards building the controversial Zulfikarabad city.

Mohammad Ismail Pathan of the Sindh United Party said that the PPP government was punishing people by taking controversial decisions aimed at dividing Sindh into many parts.

Syed Ali Hyder Shah of JSQM, Amir Hassan Arisar of JSQM (Arisar), Mohammad Siddique Baran of PTI and others also spoke on the occasion and demanded that Sindh government review its decision.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2014