SUKKUR: The Sindhi Adabi Sangat organized a protest demonstration outside the Sukkur Press Club against the possibility of creating new provinces and what the protesters described as a threat to the territorial and cultural unity of Sindh.
The demonstration was held under the theme “Sindh Meri Maa” (Sindh, My Mother) and was led by Sindhi Adabi Sangat leaders, including Ghulam Rasool Ghamro, Irshad Pirzada, Malik Khoso, Faiz Soomro and others. A large number of writers, poets, activists and supporters of the organization participated in the protest.
The protesters raised slogans in support of the unity and identity of Sindh and expressed opposition to any proposal that, in their view, could lead to the division of the province or changes to its existing territorial boundaries.
Addressing the gathering, speakers said that Sindh was a historic, cultural and geographical unit and that any attempt to divide the province or alter its boundaries would not be acceptable to them. They said the people of Sindh had a strong attachment to their land, history, language and cultural identity and would continue to raise their voices through democratic and constitutional means.
The speakers also commented on the country’s political situation. They expressed concern over what they described as political developments taking place in the name of democracy and said that discussions about the creation of new provinces had created apprehension among sections of the population in Sindh.
According to the protesters, the debate over new provinces should not be separated from the historical and cultural identity of the areas concerned. They argued that Sindh’s identity was linked not only to its administrative boundaries but also to its history, culture, language and geographical character.
The protesters demanded that any initiative concerning the creation of new provinces that could affect Sindh’s territorial unity or the sentiments of its people should be stopped. They urged political leaders and policymakers to take the concerns of Sindhi people into account before taking any decision regarding changes to provincial boundaries.
Speakers at the protest said the people of Sindh would not compromise on what they described as their province’s historical identity and unity. They maintained that they would continue to oppose any move that they believed could divide Sindh.
The demonstration also took a turn when police personnel reportedly began taking some protesters into custody.
According to the protesters, Sindhi Adabi Sangat leader Irshad Pirzada and another participant were detained by police during the demonstration and taken away. The protesters expressed concern over the arrests and demanded the immediate release of those taken into custody.
The demonstrators argued that peaceful protest and freedom of expression were fundamental rights of citizens. They said people should be allowed to express their views peacefully and constitutionally, particularly on matters they consider important to their cultural and political identity.
The protesters called upon the authorities to release the detained activists and avoid taking action against people participating in peaceful demonstrations.
Sindhi Adabi Sangat representatives said their campaign was intended to defend what they described as Sindh’s unity and identity. They maintained that writers, poets and civil society activists would continue to use peaceful and democratic platforms to express their concerns.
They also urged the government to address the debate over new provinces through constitutional and democratic forums. According to the protesters, any decision involving changes to provincial boundaries should take into account the views and concerns of the affected population.
The demonstration remained focused on the demand for maintaining Sindh’s territorial unity, with participants emphasizing the importance of history, culture and identity in discussions concerning administrative changes.
The protesters further appealed to senior authorities to take notice of their concerns and ensure that any future debate about new provinces remains within constitutional and democratic frameworks.
Meanwhile, the police position regarding the reasons for detaining the protesters was not immediately available. It was also not clear from the available information whether formal cases had been registered against those taken into custody.
The protest ended with participants reiterating their opposition to any proposal they believe could lead to the division of Sindh. They said they would continue their campaign through peaceful and constitutional means and urged authorities to respect the right of citizens to express their political and cultural concerns.
The demonstration reflects continuing debate in Sindh over proposals concerning new administrative units and the potential political, cultural and geographical implications of such changes. Protesters have made clear that they want any such discussion to be conducted transparently, constitutionally and with the participation of the people concerned.
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