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KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has said that four provinces — North Sindh, South Sindh, Central Sindh and East Sindh — could be created in Sindh without changing its name to allay concerns of Sindhi nationalists.
Addressing a function held in London to celebrate his 61st birthday on Saturday, he said that MQM never wanted any division of Sindh but new provinces were the need of the hour.
Also read: Altaf reiterates call for more provinces
According to an MQM press release, Mr Hussain said he was not in favour of division of Sindh but asked, “If Sindh is one and people have no differences then why does the [rural and urban] quota of 60:40 still exist in the province.”
He said People’s Party, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek supported creation of new provinces in their manifestos.
Mr Hussain said new provinces would be created not only in two or three provinces but in all provinces of the country, including Sindh. Otherwise, he added, no province would be created at all.
He said that name of Sindh province would remain preserved if East Sindh, South Sindh, North Sindh and Central Sindh provinces were created.
He said MQM welcomed PTI chief Imran Khan in Karachi.
Mr Hussain said that some journalists and columnists had tried to create an impression as if the MQM and PTI were fighting over Karachi but they never considered his statements about the PTI and Mr Khan which were the evidence that MQM remained fair to the PTI.
He said that despite the PTI leaderships’ propaganda against him and various accusations, MQM had never reacted to them.
Published in Dawn, September 22nd , 2014
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Comments (55) Closed
Sep 22, 2014 06:53am
I don't like him but there is nothing wrong with this suggestion. It doesn't make any sense to have such huge administrative units when our level of governance is so poor. Devolution of power is the need of the hour.
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Sep 22, 2014 06:53am
Good news, we need at least 3-4 provinces in Sindh.
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Sep 22, 2014 06:53am
Great! Baluchistan 8 provinces, KP 3 and Punjab 5
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Sep 22, 2014 06:57am
That is absolutely right. I respect the feelings of the people of Sindh. We should make provinces by keeping the primary name so no ones feelings are hurt. Having Sindh as the primary name and then adding north south east west to it. Brilliant idea by a visionary leader.
We welcome IK and Allama in Karachi we support their demands but Karachi and Hyderabad is with MQM and will always be MQMs.
Pakistan Zindabad
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Sep 22, 2014 07:17am
Province or administrative units??? Not again bhaiiii....
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Sep 22, 2014 07:21am
Very fair and reasonable suggestion. masses will benefit
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Sep 22, 2014 07:58am
@Shah how it is fair ?
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Sep 22, 2014 07:59am
It would never happen at all. This should remain the dream of some traitors who want to divide the country!
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Sep 22, 2014 08:03am
Altaf Hussain absolutely make sense...Quota system breeds incompetence and deter fair play...merit should be the only criteria for achievement...
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Sep 22, 2014 08:10am
Now, we should not even reply to this nonsense demands. It is very sad and shocking for millions of Sindhis like me to know such controversial wishes of division of Sindh. Provinces could not be divided as per wishes of any invaders. Sindh is name of Unity, Sindhi is a name of nation,Sindh keeps independent status even if you see her within Pakistan or outside of it. Historically,many invaders invaded Sindh but could not divide it ethically because Sindh has a quality to assimilate different diaspora.Where are Arabs, Argoons, Turkhaans, Taataareez, Mughals etc? They came and went but Sindh is still there.
We, therefore, request all of new province wishers to please do not go at a line that hurts Sindhis. Moreover it is not about politics,administration or ethics. It is totally a break up of a nation.We love all those who love and respect our homeland. This is time to JOIN AND RULE not to Divide and rule. See the example of Scotland.
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Sep 22, 2014 08:15am
So Urdu speaking peoples' problems will be resolved over night after Sindh is divided in 4 provinces? Right!
Why not we create South Pakistan, East Pakistan, North Pakistan and West Pakistan also. We still will be keeping the name of Pakistan and all problems will be resolved for Sindhis, Balochis, Pushtoons, Siraikis and Punjabis. Let us create one more Pakistan South South Pakistan for Urdu speaking people also.
Altaf Hussain wants to be in News all the time and unfortunately educated people of Karachi follow him. Very Sad!
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Sep 22, 2014 08:24am
Yeah they'd be unfair if one party wins the whole province then it controls all the districts where it lost.
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Sep 22, 2014 08:36am
@Sab Se Pehle Pakistan Why not we create six Pakistans with the names of South, East, West, North, South South and South West and keep the sanctity of Pakistan name also. Is this not more brilliant idea to resolve all issues immediately?
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Sep 22, 2014 09:08am
Our problems are not our states which are bound together by the aspiration of our people, founding fathers and thousands of years of history. Our problems is corruption and NRO washed politicians who are looting the country like there is no tomorrow. Creating more states will lead to nothing as the present ruling class will refill the power positions.
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Sep 22, 2014 09:11am
This is never going to happen, people of Sindh would never allow division of Sindho Nagri. Jeay Sindh.
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Sep 22, 2014 09:17am
SINDH is the land of Great Saints from last 5000 yrs who always taught love, harmony & brotherhood. SINDH is not cake that can be divided into four pieces.
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Sep 22, 2014 09:20am
more provinces, more ministers, more VIPs, more VVIPS???????
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Sep 22, 2014 09:22am
A feasible study should be conducted to evaluate the positives and negatives to justify the verbal opinions. It is a very sensitive matter and needs to be looked at from all angles.
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Sep 22, 2014 09:24am
Reasonable suggestion by AH , every citizen will benefit from additional administrative units, Analyst forecast an Alliance between MQM & PTI in Sindh ,if it happens , it would great for the Paki Politics.
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Sep 22, 2014 09:24am
Whether 4, 14, 24 or more provinces, till the time the corruption is not eliminated and sincere people are not elected every effort is useless. More provinces, meaning more government officials, more misuse of funds, more corruption and more torture of the poor and middle class citizens.
Corrupt politicians, corrupt parliamentarians, corrupt police, corrupt officials and even now fingers are pointed out at judges and the high court and supreme court justices. What can one expect in the shadow of DARKNESS ?
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Sep 22, 2014 09:46am
@Sab Se Pehle Pakistan the pakistani people sindibor other than them dont have a clue about provinces or what they are they havent even been allowed to go to school . So dont say its what the people wamt its what the politicians want
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Sep 22, 2014 10:04am
Devolution of powers is the need of the hour.
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Sep 22, 2014 10:28am
There is a saying: "An idle brain is devil's workshop". Is decisions on Pakistan still made in London? May be London should be second capital of Pakistan after Islamabad.
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Sep 22, 2014 10:31am
First time ever Altaf Hussain has said something which made sense. For the sake of administration and equal distribution of wealth in all parts of Pakistan so that it may prosper, we need to create more provinces. Punjab needs to be divided into 5 to 6 parts, same goes for Balochistan. Sindh and KPK can be divided into atleast 3 if not 4 provinces. It will make the job of govt workers much smoothrt than it currently is.
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Sep 22, 2014 11:02am
I think this is creating a huge confusion. Dividing province in administrative units is exactly the same as having big divisions. However, rather than calling the divisional administrative head `Commissioner', the new units would have `Chief Ministers', then `Governors' and ministers, right! There's no need to beat about the bush, insist on solving the existing governance issues within the existing system rather creating fissures in already polarized society on racial basis. There is a need of creating harmony and focusing on the progress of the country and NOT floating such demands that create further divisions!
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Sep 22, 2014 11:20am
Sensible demand. Need to think over it. More accountability and more vision towards betterment will be added by the creation of more provinces.
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Sep 22, 2014 11:20am
Which part of Sindh will demand a seperate country? East, west, North, South or Central Sindh?
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Sep 22, 2014 11:21am
First learn to run the single Sind province properly and honestly then you talk about breathingup the present Sind.
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Sep 22, 2014 11:28am
Nevertheless I am not in favor of MQM, the suggestion of new provinces given by MQM leader have worth.
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Sep 22, 2014 11:50am
I agreed with his suggestion. If all are equal in sindh why Qouta system.
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Sep 22, 2014 12:32pm
Statement of MQM leader currently in Pakistan:
Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Haider Abbs Rizvi categorically said on Friday that his party never demanded division of Sindh and would not make such a demand in the future, but it did emphasise the need for creating new administrative units in the country, including Sindh.
Statement of MQM leader thousands miles away from Pakistan:
Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has said that four provinces — North Sindh, South Sindh, Central Sindh and East Sindh — could be created in Sindh without changing its name to allay concerns of Sindhi nationalists.
Who is right ? Three different statements in a week, one said yes, the other said no but the first is still insisting on his YES. To whom should the people listen ? A person living and working with them daily, shoulder to shoulder or to a person who is living in his mansion thousand of miles away just passing orders as a monarch ?
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Sep 22, 2014 01:00pm
@Ahmed USA, You are talking against Quota system, and you live in USA. Have you ever visited interior Sindh. Quality of education is much lower than urban areas, how can rural student compete with urban student, so, to balance this, Quota system has to continue.
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Sep 22, 2014 01:15pm
if sindh is part of Pakistan than yes Sindh should also be included in new provinces deal, otherwise call it country of Sindh not Pakistani part
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Sep 22, 2014 01:32pm
When Pakistan was created, it had two provinces. East Pakistan and west Pakistan. Later due to adventures of military and political leaders, we were reduced to just one province. Then thru constituional amendments, this west Pakistan became four provinces , but still let out some areas called FATA( federally administed tribal areas) Again, GB(Gilgit Baltistan) came into existance, thanks to political games at the centre. We forgot about Azad Kashmir ( where you will find Pakistani currency, Pakistani Army, Pakistani Passport and still Azad a joke) If Altaf Hussain is nowasking for another four slices out of Sindh , he is not talking greek or latin.
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Sep 22, 2014 01:56pm
This demand cannot be denied.
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Sep 22, 2014 02:40pm
@Sid what has that brought sindh , just go on a tour of interior sindh and you can see how bad the situation is , division will enable the interior sector to get its fair share of resources and power through which it can improve its infrastructures and develop and be more liveable.
Making new proviences is not breakup but a decentalization of power the name sindh is associated with all the 4 proviences and jointly they will always be called Greater Sindh Provience and its cultural identity will remain intact ,
Its sad that you call your fellow countrymen as invaders, they had the same rights as you id as they fought for this nations inependece and sacrificed their homes for you , but instead of openly welcoming you are calling them invadors.
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Sep 22, 2014 03:13pm
@Zulfiqar "Sindh is not a cake"
No, it has become rotten. See Tharparker yourself. Nobody cares what's going on there.
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Sep 22, 2014 04:09pm
@Sab Se Pehle Pakistan not necessarily... dimension of politics is changing very fast.... fact would be revealed once there are clean elections....The biggest question of the time who delivered what... and where are we heading to....
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Sep 22, 2014 04:12pm
@Maheen .... If a radical devolution of powers was possible, it would have been done before. The assumption of states' rights is gone. There's no support for it in the Supreme Court and there's no support for it in public opinion. every one differs from one and other.... public interest means nothing it the personal interest that counts
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Sep 22, 2014 04:15pm
@masood sincerity my dear sincerity... there is none.... The moment there is suspicion about a person's motives, everything he does becomes tainted. what is the ulterior motive?????
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Sep 22, 2014 04:16pm
@Sab Se Pehle Pakistan... Names will not keep us together but love and better understanding will
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Sep 22, 2014 04:17pm
@Shah i seriously doubt it... one should know what is the motive behind it...
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Sep 22, 2014 04:19pm
@Sarfaraz Pal it has already been divided in 1971... if we don't straighten our acts... who knows what is next...
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Sep 22, 2014 04:21pm
@Aslam For your info the entire nation speaks Urdu.... it is your national language.... so in other words the entire nation's problem will be over
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Sep 22, 2014 04:23pm
@Ahmed USA he never spoke about quota system but he has made so many time alliances with his opponents to have his quota in the government...
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Sep 22, 2014 04:24pm
@Aslam once there was EAST AND WEST PAKISTAN... may he you are too young to remember...
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Sep 22, 2014 04:25pm
@Shah agreed 100 %
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Sep 22, 2014 04:52pm
i am surprised with the demand of mqm to divide Sindh. They call themselves sindhi and the son of soil but they want to make pieces of their beloved mother. what a non serious demand. Can any one tell me any sensible son of mother will cut his mother in pieces .if any one doesn't want to live with mother and has not respect for mother they should immediately leave mother ,otherwise the real sons of mother will come forward.
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Sep 22, 2014 06:35pm
Whether Sind is divided or not. Remove the quota system. Make merit the sole determination for everything then everything should be fine!
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Sep 22, 2014 08:02pm
@sameer Remember this quota system was introduced to upgrade the civic life of the villages and small towns but It has been almost 40 years since the Quota System was introduced but the status of our villages has not changed. I wonder when will those beneficiaries from this system will go back to their own villages and towns to serve their own people rather than vanishing in BRIGHT LIGHT of the big cities. Most selfish act on their part.
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Sep 22, 2014 09:24pm
@A Patel instead local government system may be established people should be empowered at grass roots level instead of creating more provinces
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Sep 22, 2014 11:38pm
that's actually a very sane thing to say
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Sep 24, 2014 02:10pm
As we need more provice to empower people for this I have suggestion in pakistan there are 28 divisions, so its easy to convert these division into provice.
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Sep 28, 2014 07:01am
@Muhammad Iqbal Facts? East and West Pakistan when Pakistan was created?
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Sep 28, 2014 10:57pm
After partition, we all came Sindh, Sindhies accepted us as brothers my grand father still alive love Sindhies because of their support, when we have nothing to eat, to wear and to sleep. AH just wants to secure his votes, bcz urdu speaking population have alternate options now, as rural sindhies are now moving for other options. It is dual game of Altaf and Zardari to cash Muhajir card and Sindh Card.
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