THE Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, after a heated four-hour debate on Saturday evening [May 22], decided that the capital of Pakistan shall be located in Karachi.

The Constituent Assembly also resolved that “all executive and administrative authority in respect of Karachi and such neighbouring areas which in the opinion of the Central Government may be required for the purposes of the capital of Pakistan shall vest in, and shall be exercised by or on behalf of, the Government of Pakistan and the Legislative power shall vest in the Federal Legislature”.

… Twelve speakers from all provinces of Pakistan took part in the debate which had to be suspended twice for the Asar and Maghrib prayers. … Mr Liaquat Ali Khan, Leader of the House, replying to the debate silenced all critics by assuring them that the Pakistan Government would make a financial adjustment with the Government of Sind… . Khwaja Shahabuddin said that there was no reason to hold the view that the city of Karachi will be lost to the Sindhis. He cited the case of Calcutta which was the capital of united India for over 50 years.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2023