HYDERABAD: Jeay Sindh Mahaz-Khaliq (JSM-K) leaders have raised questions over Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s claim that the Centre only wanted Sindh’s natural resources and cared less about the province, and reminded him that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto himself had handed over all resources to the federation under the 1973 Constitution.

JSM-K chairman Abdul Khaliq Junejo, vice chairman Hashim Khoso and general secretary Imdad Sindhi said in a joint statement issued on Friday that PPP should make its policy clear about Bilawal’s speech at the 40th death anniversary of Z.A. Bhutto at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh a day ago.

They said that Gen Tikka Khan was also reported to have said before the fall of Dhaka that he wanted Bangladesh but not Bengalis but PPP founder Z.A. Bhutto made him chief of army staff and then defence minister and following in the footsteps of the father, slain PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto made the general PPP’s secretary general.

They said that as per Bilawal, the federation wanted to seize resources of the province though Z.A. Bhutto had already handed them over to the Centre in the shape of the 1973 Constitution.

They said that Bilawal claimed the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf led federal government desired to create One Unit and recalled that it was Z.A. Bhutto who had opposed struggle against One Unit to “please” Punjab.

He had said so during his speech in University of Sindh when people were fighting against One Unit. Bilawal must therefore explain clear policy of his party on these questions though his speech was first step in the right direction, they said.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2019