HYDERABAD, Jan 4: District Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman has opposed a proposal of Muttahida Qaumi Movement MPA Arshad Shah to divide Hyderabad and create a separate city district government.

In a communication addressed to the Sindh chief minister, a copy of which was obtained by Dawn, the nazim said people of Sindh in general and of Hyderabad in particular had strong reservations about the bifurcation of the district. Mr Rafiquzzaman said such a move by the government would jeopardise basic rights of people and it would lead to ethnic rift.

He pointed out that the MPA had sent a letter to the minister for revenue and political affairs for creation of a city district in Hyderabad, comprising three talukas - City, Latifabad and Qasimabad - and making the rest of talukas, Tando Allahyar, Tando Mohammad Khan, Hala and Matiari, Tando Allahyar district by invoking section 9 of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance, 2001.

The nazim argued that the City taluka might be an urban area but Latifabad was partially urban with rural surroundings and the Qasimabad taluka also comprised only a small urban area. He said it could hardly be said the three talukas were an urban entity.

He further said conditions laid down in section 8 of the SLGO did not apply there as population of the two areas did not exceed one million. He said it would also be in violation and contradiction of sub-clause (b) of section 8 of the ordinance as economy thereof did not largely comprise commercial, industrial or services sectors.

Furthermore, he said, the labour force in such sectors or in other non-agricultural sectors was not more than 66 per cent. Mr Rafiquzzaman, on the demand of the majority of Hyderabad residents, has recommended creation of a city district government by converting the district's eight talukas and their union councils into 17 towns without altering boundaries of the district or favouring any particular political group or class of people.

He cautioned that the people foresaw the bifurcation plan of the district on political reasons and if the plan was approved by the government, it might lead to infighting among the masses and recast the tragic Qambar episode.

He requested the chief minister not to divide the district because, according to him, it was against the public interest, peace and tranquillity and amounted to violation of fundamental rights ensured to people in the Constitution.

SINDH WATCH GROUP: The Sindh Watch Group's supreme council in a statement issued here on Tuesday also opposed the Muttahida MPA's proposal.