Observer Report
Karachi
The Sindh government has withdrawn its earlier decision to hand over islands located off Karachi’s coast to the federal government after coming under pressure from people and political parties of the province.
A day earlier, PTI’s Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi had said the federal government wanted to develop islands located in Karachi and accused the Pakistan People’s Party of ‘hypocrisy’ of opposing the ordinances aimed at creating an islands development authority.
The minister had also shared a letter from the Sindh government and a map of the area under the Port Qasim Authority, and claimed that the provincial government had given its consent in July to the construction project in Bundal Island.
In a letter, dated October 6, addressed to the secretary of the cabinet division, the provincial government’s land utilisation department said: “The federal government instead of fulfilling proper criteria, has unilaterally promulgated Pakistan Development Authority Ordinance 2020, whereas the ownership of Bundal and Buddo Islands were illegally usurped by the federal government which is a clear and blatant violation of Article 172 (2) of the Constitution.”
It further added that the “illegal annexation” of the islands is tantamount to “changing the boundaries of our province which is again a violation of Article 239 (4) of the Constitution”.
“Sindh cabinet earlier took the strongest exception to it and demanded the federal government to withdraw the decision. Due to this illegal, unconstitutional and malafide act, Sindh cabinet has decided not to engage with the federal government for the purpose of developing the island and consequently the letter dated July 6, 2020, of Sindh government is treated as a nullity,” added the letter sent by the provincial government while referring to the provincial cabinet’s decision to reject the ordinance issued by President Arif Alvi.
The provincial government has changed its stance on the issue following a campaign in the province by right activists, Sindhi nationalists, civil society and others.
PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had also denounced the move and compared the “illegal annexation” of the islands to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s actions in occupied Kashmir. However, Zaidi later said the provincial government was creating a ‘drama’ as the Sindh government had consented to the move earlier.
