KARACHI, Oct 21: The Jeay Sindh Mahaz (JSM) has criticised the government for plotting to divide political parties on the pretext of bringing regional parties into the mainstream, and described it as a crude attempt to sidetrack the pressing issue.

“We dismiss the philosophy of the so-called mainstream politics as we consider the status of Pakistan as multi-nation state wherein all nations are equal and each of them must be accorded an equal status and should have control on their respective land and resources,” JSM chief Abdul Khalique Junejo said while talking to Dawn.

He said the recent statements by certain government leaders indicated that they considered themselves as ‘custodians of sovereignty’ and that parties and groups in various federating units as their ‘colonies’ as if it was in these leaders’ authority to decide the fate of the colonies.

The federal government’s attitude could be gauged from the fact that it would not even bother to take its own nominated government in Sindh into confidence on the future of two islands of the province, he added.

“This is a very serious issue as it has once again raised the question of sovereignty which we consider the core issue.

The political crisis persisting in the country could not be overcome unless this issue is resolved,” he stressed.

The JSM leader pointed out that the federation of Pakistan comprises many nations of diverse historical backgrounds, cultures and languages, besides economic resources. Thus, he said, sovereignty belongs to the people of federating units and not to Islamabad rulers “who have usurped the sovereign rights of these nations.”

Defining his party’s belief, he said: “Our politics is based on equality of nations and we believe in recognising their sovereign rights on their resources. We reject colonial approach of the Islamabad rulers in deciding the affairs of the country as such an approach was of the British rulers.”