KARACHI: The Sindh Cabinet has unanimously rejected Pakistan Island Development Authority Ordinance and demanded that the federal government withdraw it at once.
According to a statement from the Chief Minister House, the cabinet unanimously rejected the presidential ordinance under which Pakistan Islands Development Authority has been established.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah chaired a meeting of the cabinet at the CM House and provincial ministers, advisors, chief secretary Mumtaz Shah, and concerned secretaries attended the meeting.
After receiving a detailed briefing on the ordinance promulgated on 31 August 2020 by the President of Pakistan, the cabinet members termed the move was against the “Constitution of Pakistan”.
“The Constitution establishes the ownership of the provincial government on the lands, the islands, and the land in the sea located within its territorial jurisdiction,” the members said in the statement.
“The cabinet said that the ordinance, setting aside the conditions set by the provincial government, declared the islands located in the territorial jurisdiction of the Sindh and Balochistan as the property of the federal government,” the statement added.
The provincial cabinet said that the ordinance was “an attempt to trample the rights of the people of Sindh”.
It has decided to write a letter to the federal government asking it to withdraw the ordinance which has “denied the rights of the provincial government and its people”.
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference Sindh government’s spokesperson Murtaza Wahab said that the province had reservations over the federal government’s decision.
He said the Constitution clearly stated that the land within a province’s limits belonged to the provincial government.
Through the PIDA ordinance, Wahab said, the PTI government has “tried to give the impression that they can add any island to federal possessions by amending this schedule. This is a completely unconstitutional act done by the federal government,” he added.
Terming the ordinance “an encroachment on the provincial authority and powers”, Wahab said the provincial government had long maintained that the islands were a property of the people and government of Sindh.
“When the federal government told Sindh that they wanted to carry out development on these islands, the Sindh government categorically informed them that these islands are property of Sindh government and people,” he added, denying the impression that “the Sindh government did not fight Sindh’s case.”
He said the provincial government had shown a willingness to the proposal “in good faith” and for the progress of the local residents.
The spokesperson said, but “on September 2, they (Centre) attacked the rights of Sindh and Balochistan by issuing this ordinance without any consultation and showed ownership of something which is not theirs,” terming the move “illegal and unethical”.
The ordinance, published in the Gazette on September 2, was made public in the first week of October, which he alleged showed the federal government’s “ill-intent,” he added.
He said the talks that the Sindh government planned to hold with the Centre regarding the islands “in good faith” will no longer be taken forward “because we don’t trust your word anymore”.
Reacting strongly to the development yesterday, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said his party will oppose the “illegal annexation” of Sindh’s Islands through the presidential ordinance by the PTI government.
“I ask how is this act any different to Modi’s actions in occupied Kashmir?” Bilawal said that the move will be opposed in the National Assembly, provincial assembly and the Senate.
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
