KARACHI : The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Sindh chapter held a high-profile seminar on Thursday, firmly declaring that the province will fiercely resist any attempts to roll back the 18th Constitutional Amendment. The participants also demanded an immediate meeting of the National Finance Commission (NFC) to announce a new financial award. The seminar, titled “Is taking administrative control of Karachi, cutting the NFC award, and conspiracy against the 18th Amendment and provincial autonomy an attempt to push Sindh towards One Unit?”, was addressed by top party leadership and constitutional experts.
Presiding over the event, PPP Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro emphasized that under the Constitution, the federal government can only issue directives to a province to implement federal laws for the province’s own benefit. He asserted that the federation absolutely cannot seize administrative control of any city, adding that the 18th Amendment is a permanent part of the Constitution, passed with unanimous consensus by all political parties.
Former Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani, attending as the chief guest, dismissed any notions of separating Karachi from the province, stating that Karachi was, is, and will always remain the capital of Sindh. He challenged critics by explaining that placing Karachi or Gwadar under federal control would require a two-thirds majority amendment in Parliament. Those who dream of separating Karachi from Sindh, he added, must first secure a two-thirds majority in both the federation and the province. The seminar concluded with a strong demand for provincial autonomy, warning against any attempts to resurrect the “One Unit” system.
