The remarks of a private TV channel’s famous anchorperson, Sohail Warraich during his programme ‘Mere Mutabiq’, in which he explored the possibility of Sindh dividing into a new province, enraged people throughout the province and protesters in large numbers took to the streets on Sunday to express their annoyance.
Warraich’s remarks on his TV programme, which was broadcasted on Saturday, spread like wildlife throughout the province and thousands of SMSs started doing the rounds, condemning the programme and the channel.
Activists of civil society organisations and Sindhi nationalist parties as well as ordinary citizens unleashed scathing criticism on the anchorperson as well as the TV channel, Geo News. Hundreds of protesters blocked the Thatta-bound main National Highway for around an hour and chanted slogans against the TV channel. Sindhi nationalist parties including Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM), Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party (STPP), Awami Tehreek and others termed the TV programme as an attack on the unity of Sindh and issued a protest call against the channel.
“It is an international agenda that Geo is delivering to disturb peace in the country. The conspirators have planned such programmes so that Sindhi people react severely and block all the roads leading to Punjab and shut down all supplies to Karachi so that they can later make the decision they desire,” said president Awami Tahreek Ayaz Latif Palijo. In a telephonic conversation with Pakistan Today, Palijo said that activists of his party held rallies and public gatherings in almost every town and city in Sindh. He said that the conspirators know well that Sindhi people are very emotional and will react strongly.
“We believe that international conspirators are planning such things and Geo news is helping them,” he added.
JSQM Bashir Khan Qureshi in a statement condemned Geo News for telecasting controversial and anti-Sindh programmes. We will not allow anyone to think about the division of Sindh. We demand the Sindhi nation to completely boycott Geo News and its newspaper,” he said. Central leader of STPP, Ali Hasan Chandio also warned the TV channel not to air programmes that propagate an anti-Sindh agenda.
Sohail Warraich loses his fan club in Sindh
