HYDERABAD: A conference of literati, artists and academics held in the local press club on Sunday declared that the Constitution provides for Sindh’s territorial integrity and, as such, a division of the province will be unacceptable.

In a joint declaration issued at the conference, it was made clear that “since Sindh voluntarily joined Pakistan’s federation as per the 1940 Pakistan Resolution, therefore, its accession to and continued association with federal structure is intrinsically linked to constitutional protection of territorial integrity, autonomy and its historical identity”.

The conference also asserted that a corrupt, nepotistic and incompetent model of governance in Sindh was equally inimical to the interests of its people.

The ‘Wahdat-i-Sindh Qalamkar Conference’ was organised by a group of literati, artists and academics led by known writer Jami Chandio.

In his speech, Mr Chandio question Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s authority and profile for talking about “collapse of the system and necessity of new provinces”. He said Mr Naqvi’s claim appeared to be a charge-sheet against the rulers of the country who committed blunders over the last 80 years.

Jami Chandio said that the 18th amendment was a positive step for running the country as a democratic state but the rulers did not implement it fully. “A division of Sindh is just unacceptable,” he said, adding: “The establishment wants to usurp Sindh’s resources, land, river, sea and mountains under a massive planning”.

Prof Imdad Chandio told the audience that Sindh would remain undivided because “this province is the creator of Pakistan”. Bengal had also played a vital role in its creation, he said.

He said federation could not be run forcibly.

Prof Amar Sindhu said that conspiracies had been hatched over the last 80 years against Sindh. She said Sindh would not accept any constitutional amendment aimed at dividing Sindh.

Senior journalist Lala Rehman Samoo said that people would defend Sindh like they protected the Indus River when the Kalabagh dam issue was raised.

Poet Dr Mushtaq Phull said that any legislation for a division of Sindh would be resisted. He said that Urdu-speaking intelligentsia is with Sindh.

Artist Saif Samejo said that people of Sindh fearlessly faced all threats to their homeland and would defend it come what may.

Advocate Sattar Sarki said it appeared that someone was checking the possible reaction of Sindh over the plan to create new provinces. He said artists, lawyers, poets and writers would protect Sindh’s integrity.

Sindh United Party (SUP) representative Aftab Khanzada said that Sindh is an entity that could not be divided. He said: “Certain quarters are trying to fight a battle they will never win”.

Poet Ishaq Samejo presented his poetry at the conference.

Zulfiqar Qadri, Hakeem Zangejo, Amir Latif Siddiqi, Noor Mohammad Memon, Waqar Mallah and others also spoke.

The joint declaration said that it was a collective responsibility of all permanently settled citizens of Sindh, irrespective of the language they speak, to hold this “anti-people system of governance accountable through democratic and political means”.

It observed that neither a genuine inclusive democracy nor a democratic federalism currently existed in the country and, as a consequence, growing contradictions between the state and its citizens had reached an alarming level.

It vowed to collectively resist “anti-Sindh agendas being pursued through convergence of fascist groups and elements within the establishment”.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2026