KARACHI: The Sindh government has rejected Balochistan government’s claim over 0.248 million acres of land located at the top of Kirthar Range and said that this land in Kirthar Range plateau is high above Gorakh Hill station and has already been declared part of Qambar district.

This was stated by Senior Minister Nisar Ahmad Khuhro while addressing a press conference here in Sindh Assembly committee room on Wednesday along with MPA Nawab Ghebi Sardar Chandio.

Mr Khuhro advised the Balochistan government to give up its claim on the land because it was part of Sindh and would remain its part.

He said Sindh was a smaller and friendly province, but would never compromise on its border and areas, nor would it allow anyone to encroach even an inch of its land.

Mr Khuhro held the press conference in response to a press talk addressed by Khuzdar district council chairman Shakeel Durrani the other day in which Mr Durrani had claimed that the said land belonged to Balochistan.

Mr Durrani’s statement came after a statement was given by MPA Aslam Bizenjo in the Balochistan Assembly in response to a question asked by someone in this regard in which Mr Bizenjo had said that the land belonged to Balochistan and an impression was given as if Sindh had encroached upon Balochistan land rich with minerals.

Mr Khuhro said this claim and impression of Balochistan was baseless.

He showed a map and gazette of 1876 in which it was shown as part of Qambar District.

He said that the Sindh government would take up this issue with the Balochistan government because it was a serious matter and it appeared that a resolved issue was being raised once again by certain elements.

Mr Khuhro said that the Balochistan government had also constituted a three-member committee.

“Let it work, but Sindh will not back an inch from its land because Sindh is the owner of this land.”

He requested his friends in Balochistan to give up their claim over the piece of land and avoid raising a new contentious issue.

Mr Khuhro further pointed out that Sindh neither had occupied minerals of Balochistan nor had encroached upon the land of Balochistan.

On the occasion Sindh MPA from Qambar Shahdadkot Sardar Chandio recalled the history of the plateau showing documents to prove that it was part of Sindh from the British Raj; as such Balochistan’s claim over the plateau was beyond comprehension.

He said “mischievous elements” used to raise the issue in the past also, but not only in Pakistan Survey maps, but even from the days of Khan of Kalat period it was shown as part of Sindh.

Responding to a question, Sardar Chandio said this time this issue was raised during local bodies’ election by certain elements to get political mileage.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2018