KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday sought comments from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defence and provincial chief secretary on a petition seeking division of the province of Sindh in seven states and the Karachi as an independent state.
A division bench headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi was hearing a constitutional petition filed by a citizen Azmat Wali who approached in the high court, praying it pass appropriate orders for authorities concerned.
He submitted that in all the European and Muslim countries including the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, United Arab Emirate, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, Syria and Turkey, the population of any province is not more than 50 million.
The petitioner submitted that Pakistan is a rich country and its all provinces have the potential of becoming an independent state, adding that the leadership of the country never worked for its development by not devolving the powers at a lower level.
“Sindh is also a rich province but so-called Waderas, Mirs, Nawabs, Makhdooms and Pirs always held the neck of the poor Sindhis. The influential people never allowed the establishment of schools, colleges, universities, institutes for technical and science education as they do not want to see poor Sindhis educated and developed,” the petition read.
Wali recommended that even after the division, the corps commander of Sindh, as well as the director general Rangers, will remain in Karachi. The other federal and provincial offices will also remain in Karachi but under the control of the chief executive or governor of Karachi.
Issuing notices to above-mentioned respondents and the federal and provincial law officer, the court directed them to furnish their replies by May 8.