KARACHI: The Mohajir Rabita Council (MRC) on Monday announced that it would soon launch a movement for the creation of a province for Mohajirs in Sindh.

Having close and ill-disguised ties with the Mutta­hida Qaumi Movement, the MRC was formed over two decades ago with the stated aim of working for the rights of Urdu-speaking people.

Speaking at a press conference here at the Karachi Press Club, MRC general secretary Arshad Siddiqui said that those who were giving biased and provoking statements against the creation of a new province were actually unaware of the history of Sindh.

He said that the introduction of a 60:40 quota for the rural and urban population during the era of former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had laid the foundation for the division of Sindh.

He said that a few days ago some politicians and members of some religious and nationalist parties through a resolution had opposed the creation of a province for Mohajirs in Sindh. “We are representing Mohajirs and are rejecting the resolution.”

He strongly criticised the ongoing Rangers-led targeted operation in the city and said that everyone knew about the anti-Mohajir mindset of the law enforcement agencies.

“These law enforcement agencies are kidnapping and killing innocent Mohajir youths of Karachi as if this city is not the commercial capital of Pakistan but a part of the India-held Jammu and Kashmir.”

He said that the MRC wanted to give a clear message to “rejected politicians, anti-Mohajir parties, so-called Sindhi nationalists and the establisment” that they could not stop the creation of a province for Mohajirs.

Earlier, a demonstration was held outside the KPC in which participants dema­nd­ed creation of a province for Mohajirs.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2014