PPP warns Centre against interfering in Sindh’s constitutional status
KARACHI: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Saturday warned the federal government against what it called interference in Sindh’s constitutional status, demanding that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif rein in federal ministers making statements about new provinces and administrative units.
The warning came at a meeting of the PPP Sindh leadership chaired by party provincial president Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, where participants reviewed the political situation following the Sindh Assembly’s unanimous resolution opposing any division of the province.
The meeting criticised recent statements by federal ministers about creating new provinces and changes to the administrative system, describing them as an attempt to interfere in matters concerning provincial autonomy.
The PPP said the federal government should not pursue any constitutional amendment without the required parliamentary majority, warning that attempts to undermine the democratic process or provincial rights could have serious consequences for national unity.
Khuhro said the PPP supported the continuity of democracy but would not allow the 18th Constitutional Amendment, provincial autonomy, Sindh’s territorial integrity or the rights of provinces to be undermined.
“The federal government should stop spreading rumours and confusion about new provinces, while the prime minister must restrain his ministers from making such statements,” Khuhro said.
He said any attempt to amend the Constitution required the necessary parliamentary majority and urged the federal government not to weaken democratic institutions.
Khuhro warned that continued statements by federal ministers on the creation of new provinces could fuel political tensions and said the PPP would respond at the public level if such remarks continued.
The meeting also criticised MQM-Pakistan, PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami for not taking part in the voting on the Sindh Assembly resolution.
The PPP said the resolution reflected the concerns of millions of people in Sindh and praised President Asif Ali Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Faryal Talpur, Khuhro and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah for their role in securing its passage.
The meeting said the PPP would continue to defend Sindh’s unity and provincial rights through constitutional and democratic means.
Khuhro said the party viewed recent calls for new provinces and administrative units as part of a broader political dispute over the 18th Amendment, provincial autonomy and the federal structure.
He said the PPP wanted to strengthen the federation and democratic system rather than weaken them.
The meeting was attended by PPP Sindh General Secretary Waqar Mehdi, divisional presidents including Ziaul Hasan Lanjar and Jam Ikramullah, district presidents and provincial heads of the party’s various wings.
The party resolved to mobilise public opinion against what it described as attempts to interfere with Sindh’s constitutional position and vowed to continue raising the issue through democratic and constitutional forums.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026