KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that his party will strongly oppose the “illegal annexation” of Sindh’s Islands through a presidential ordinance by the federal government.
On a social media website Twitter, Bilawal said, “I ask how this act is any different to Indian PM Modi’s actions in Occupied Kashmir? The move will be opposed in National, Provincial Assembly and the Senate,” he added.
The Pakistan People’s Party will oppose the illegal annexation of Sindh’s Islands through Presidential ordinance by the PTI government. I ask how is this act any different to Modi’s actions in occupied Kashmir? Move will be opposed in National, Provincial Assembly & the Senate. pic.twitter.com/4gtwSTMna8
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) October 5, 2020
Sindh Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, while rejecting the ordinance, also said in a statement that the Islands belonged to the provincial government and Sindh’s land cannot be “occupied by any ordinance”.
“The land of these Islands belonged to the people of Sindh and it is rightfully theirs,” he said. Shah demanded the immediate revocation of the ordinance which negated the rights of the people of Sindh.
On September 1, President Dr Arif Alvi had promulgated the ordinance for establishing the “Pakistan Islands Development Authority” for “development and management of islands in internal and territorial waters of Pakistan”. Its ultimate objective was stated to be the development of cities on the islands.
“Whereas the Senate and the National Assembly are not in session and the president of Islamic Republic is satisfied that circumstances exist, which render it necessary to take immediate action,” said the ordinance which emerged on social media on Friday.
The ordinance was received with shock in Sindh with regional newspapers carrying its news as their lead stories and a number of political leaders condemning the move and calling it an attempt to “encroach” on Sindh’s land.
An official in the Sindh government familiar with the matter said that federal authorities had intimated the Sindh government schemes worth $20 billion would be started on the islands.
“The Sindh government claiming ownership of the island had said the ToR [terms of reference] of the schemes would be framed by the provincial government. But now an ordinance has surfaced,” he said.
On the other hand, sources disclosed the ordinance was issued in connivance with the PPP leadership which has in return sought relief in corruption cases filed against it.
Twin islands Bhandar and Bundal are located near Karachi and Thatta districts bordering Korangi, Phitti and Jhari creeks.
