Sindh Assembly adopts resolution against division of province amid opposition boycott

• Murad says no compromise on Sindh’s geographical unity; House rejects proposals to alter provincial boundaries or create a new province or administrative units
• Muttahida, JI walk out over exclusion of proposals on administrative units and devolution

KARACHI: Amid a strong protest and boycott by opposition, the Sindh Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution rejecting all attempts to divide the province or create new administrative units, with Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah declaring that “there will be no compromise on Sindh’s geographical unity”.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) walked out of the house immediately after Opposition Leader Ali Khurshidi’s address on the adjournment motion, before the resolution was tabled, saying they were boycotting the proceedings because the treasury had refused to include three points proposed by the MQM-P in the resolution.

However, no Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers were present in the assembly when the resolution was tabled.

The resolution stated that a renewed public debate had emerged over the creation of new provinces and administrative units in Pakistan, including proposals and suggestions that may have the effect of altering Sindh’s existing territorial limits.

It added that the House unequivocally rejected any proposal, plan, scheme or constitutional arrangement, by whatever name or description, which sought to divide Sindh, alter its existing territorial limits, or create any new province out of its territory.

The House also rejected any plan to place any part of the province under a separate or federal administrative arrangement.

It called upon the federal government, parliament, all political parties and all state institutions to respect the repeatedly expressed democratic will of the people of Sindh.

Earlier, concluding the debate on an adjournment motion moved by Pakistan Peoples Party Sindh President Nisar Khuhro on the formation of new provinces and administrative units in the country, including Sindh, the chief minister said that any move to alter Sindh’s boundaries without the consent of its elected assembly was unacceptable and unconstitutional. “Today you will know who wants to divide Sindh and who stands against it,” he added.

Referring to Article 239(4) of the Constitution, he said that an amendment had given the National Assembly the power to legislate on provincial boundaries, but made it conditional on a two-thirds majority and the President’s assent.

The chief minister accused MQM-P leaders of contradictory positions. “When our members began speaking, they all backtracked, saying they don’t want a new province. If the opposition was sincere to its words, it would not have run away,” he said.

Mr Shah said the adjournment motion was brought precisely to hold the debate in the House after a federal minister’s statement in Lahore on new provinces. “We had already drafted a resolution. They wanted some additions on new administrative units and devolution. We said that could be a separate resolution, because under the rules one resolution must deal with one subject,” he added.

Khurshidi accuses PPP of diverting attention

In his speech on the adjournment motion before the boycott, the opposition leader questioned the need for a four-day debate on the division of Sindh, saying the house already had a principled consensus against it, and accused the PPP of prolonging the dis

drafted a resolution. They wanted some additions on new administrative units and devolution. We said that could be a separate resolution, because under the rules one resolution must deal with one subject,” he added.

Khurshidi accuses PPP of diverting attention

In his speech on the adjournment motion before the boycott, the opposition leader questioned the need for a four-day debate on the division of Sindh, saying the house already had a principled consensus against it, and accused the PPP of prolonging the discussion to divert attention from governance failures.

He said that the Sindh Assembly “represents the people of the entire province” and must rise above party lines. “If the entire House is against the division of Sindh, then why are such resolutions and adjournment motions being brought again and again?” he asked.

Mr Khurshidi said the MQM-P’s demand was not for new provinces but for empowering Sindh’s existing six divisions through a Provincial Finance Commission. “We are talking about empowering the existing administrative units, not about new provinces,” he said.

He argued that financial, administrative and political powers should be devolved to divisions including Karachi, Hyderabad, Shaheed Benazirabad and Larkana.

The opposition leader said his party had tried to get a joint resolution passed and had supported similar resolutions in the past, including in 2019. He added that they were going out of the house in protest because the provincial government’s attitude was not inclusive.

He said the MQM-P had proposed that new administrative units be declared “an important step towards effective, accountable and people-centric governance” in the resolution, but the proposals were not included. “There was not a single wrong word in the proposals presented by MQM,” he added.

Later, Speaker Syed Awais Shah adjourned the house to Friday.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2026