Responding to the rejection of the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2008 – that sought the national language status for regional languages – by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Sindh Culture Minister Sassui Palijo said on Wednesday that the members who opposed the bill should not be sitting in the parliament.
According to an official handout, Palijo said that land and language both are the real and basic identity of us all and if Sindhi language has national status in the constitution of India, it should be in Pakistan as well. “Sindhi, Punjabi, Balochi and Pushto languages have a historical significance and through a single amendment in the constitution, they should be given the status of national languages, but those who say that the bill increases dispersion, should be ashamed,” she said.
“They should understand that Pakistan is not a name of one culture, language and a place but the country includes different units,” she added.
“Unless the culture, language, history and basic rights of all the provinces are not given importance and provided constitutional cover, Pakistan cannot become prosperous.”
The provincial minister said that the bill would be moved in the parliament again and she would also approach the members of the National Assembly.
Sassui criticises rejection of language bill
