Bilawal opposes ‘illegal annexation’ of Sindh’s Islands

Sindh island authorities’ new ordinance was likened to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s annexation of Kashmir by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who added that his party will strongly oppose the “illegal annexation”.

“I ask how is this act any different to [Indian PM] Modi’s actions in Occupied Kashmir? Move will be opposed in National, Provincial Assembly and the Senate,” he tweeted on Monday, adding that the PPP will seek a presidential ordinance through the federal government.

Similarly, the ordinance was rejected by Sindh Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah. He released a statement saying 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. The minister asserted that the ordinance infringed on the rights of the people, and demanded its revocation.

On September 1, President Dr Arif Alvi publicised the ordinance for establishing “Pakistan Islands Development Authority” for “development and management of islands in internal and territorial waters of Pakistan”.

“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 islands being discussed by the ordinance, in particular, are Bhandar and Bundal are located near Karachi and Thatta districts bordering Korangi, Phitti and Jhari creeks. Pakistan has a coastal belt of over 1,050 kilometres and there are 300 small and big islands located in Sindh coastal belt. The federal government will take control of all these islands if the law is promulgated.

A number of rallies and protests have been threatened by different nationalist parties, writers, intellectuals and poets, who were shocked by the attempt to “encroach” on Sindh’s land. A Sindh government official said regarding the matter that federal authorities had intimated the Sindh government that mega city 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.

There were rumours on social media that the ordinance was issued in connivance with the PPP leadership which has in return sought relief in corruption cases filed against it.