THATTA: Sassui Palijo, a former PPP Senator and Sindh minister, has warned that any move to curtail provincial autonomy or undermine integrity of Sindh would invite strong public resistance.

She was commenting on the proposed 28th constitutional amendment while speaking to media here on Sunday evening.

Palijo said although the draft of the proposed amendment had not been shared with political figures, there were strong speculations that it was aimed at altering provinces’ boundaries, particularly of Sindh, and curtailing their autonomy. “These speculations have been creating great anxiety and concerns among the masses,” she observed.

“If the move leads to a division of provinces, the people of Sindh will stand against it like a wall,” she said, adding that Sindh would launch a strong protest movement against any such decision.

Sassui Palijo also terms 26th, 27th amendments ‘controversial’, warns against attempts to change NFC Award formula

She said that the 18th Constitutional Amendment, passed through the great efforts made by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership and other lawmakers, was a major step towards provincial autonomy as enshrined in the 1940 Lahore Resolution.

Palijo also pointed out that there had been apprehensions, as being shared on the social media and in political circles, that the proposed amendment might make changes to the NFC Award formula, roll back the 18th Amendment and transfer certain subjects, like health, education and population welfare, back to the federal government from provinces.

“While even the 18th Amendment has not been fully implemented, attempts are being made to altogether roll it back,” she deplored.

“The PPP and people of Sindh will not accept any such amendment,” she said.

The former Senator also criticised moves to deprive Sindh of its resources and federation’s interference in province’s autonomy, and reminded the authorities concerned that people of Sindh had always resisted all such attempts.

Speaking about provinces’ share in the Indus water, she said that Sindh was already being denied its due share, and alleged that Punjab was taking away Sindh’s share through illegal canals.

She recalled that people of Sindh had staged protests on a large scale against the six canal projects, and warned that any attempt to legitimise such projects through constitutional amendments would trigger another wave of resistance.

She said that feared cuts in provinces’ share under the NFC Award would not only affect Sindh, but also other provinces, including Punjab.

“Without financial and economic powers, provincial autonomy is meaningless,” she argued.

Ms Palijo also termed the 26th and 27th Constitutional Amendments ‘controversial’, saying that the proposed 28th one would be an “anti-people legislation” if it undermined provinces’ legitimate rights.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2026