11/08/2026
*Why do only Sindhis object to the division of provinces?*
Since the creation of Pakistan, the state has been suffering from an IDENTITY CRISIS. Giving a common identity to the various nations included in Pakistan has become a big challenge.
At the time of Pakistan’s creation, power in writing was handed over to the civilian government of the Muslim League, whose majority language was Urdu. But the majority language of the army was Punjabi.
Before Pakistan was formed, the Punjabi language was written in the Shahmukhi script (and in Gurmukhi for Sikhs). Therefore, instead of writing and reading in their own Punjabi language, Punjabi Muslims had already started writing in Urdu during the British era.
At the time Pakistan was formed, the Balochi language did not have a standardized script, and the Pashtuns serving in the British army were also educated in Urdu. Therefore, the Frontier (present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Balochistan also accepted Urdu as the medium of education.
But because Bengalis and Sindhis already had their own scripts, Sindhi and Bengali were declared as educational and official languages even during British rule.
When people could not unite on the basis of one language, the provincial boundaries were abolished and present-day Pakistan (West Pakistan) was turned into "One Unit".
*The question of provincial boundaries and changes in provinces...*
After Pakistan was created, Sindh suffered the biggest loss. With the arrival of Muhajirs in Sindh, Sindh’s demography changed. Sindhis lost centuries-old control over Sindh’s cities.
Sindhi Hindus left Sindh’s cities, and in their place all the major cities came under the control of Muhajirs. Sindhi Muslims were restricted to small towns and villages, and Sindhis were even displaced from Karachi city.
After Pakistan was formed, Sindh was not given any new city. The geographical boundaries of Sindh were further narrowed.
Although the Kutch region belonged to Sindh, it went to India. The Pakistani government did not pursue the Kutch issue. Junagadh supported joining Pakistan, but Liaquat Ali Khan insisted on Hyderabad Deccan and Kashmir. As a result, not only Hyderabad Deccan and Kashmir were lost, but we also lost claim to Kutch and Junagadh.
Before Pakistan was formed, Bahawalpur State and Dera Ghazi Khan were not part of Punjab. After Pakistan was formed, the 3 districts of Bahawalpur Division and Dera Ghazi Khan district were also given to Punjab for free.
The Frontier (KPK) was made stronger by giving it additional areas.
Balochistan was divided between the State of Kalat and British Balochistan. After joining Pakistan, when Balochistan was made a province, Lasbela State of Sindhis and Sibi, along with 7 sub-divisions of Sindh, were also given to Balochistan during Bhutto’s era.
KPK is not a natural homeland. KPK remained a tribal area of the wider land of Pashtuns/Afghans. It was strengthened by adding the areas of the Hazarewals. If the Hazarewals want to separate from KPK, that is their basic right.
Punjab was given the Bahawalpur Division and Dera Ghazi Khan district, further increasing its numerical majority. If Saraikis want to separate from Punjab, that is also their basic right.
By nature, Balochistan has consisted of different regions of Pashtuns, Baloch, Brahuis, and Sindhis. If Pashtuns want to merge their areas (Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Chaman, Pishin, Zhob, Musa Khel, Ziarat, etc.) with KPK, or demand a separate province within Balochistan, that is their basic right. The Baloch also have no objection to this because the Baloch have never made a national claim on those areas.
The Baloch, Brahui, Sindhi, Khetrani, and Jadgali communities living in Balochistan are brotherly nations and brotherly peoples. We will also oppose the division of that Balochistan where they live together. Gwadar is the property of the Baloch, and handing it over to the Federation would also be a violation of the Baloch’s national rights.
*But Sindh has not occupied the land of any other nation.*
No part of present-day Sindh was formed by occupying the land of another province. The present boundaries of Sindh have been the historical and cultural heritage of Sindh and Sindhis for thousands of years. Therefore, we cannot allow anyone to divide Sindh on the basis of country, religion, ethnicity, group, or political differences.
Whenever there is talk of dividing provinces in Pakistan, the question of every Sindh-opponent is: "Divide Sindh first, then we will divide Punjab."
The Saraikis are demanding back their land from Punjab. That land has never belonged to Punjabis.
Sindh has been the national property of Sindhis for thousands of years. No Muhajir, Punjabi, Pashtun, Gilgiti, Kashmiri, Bihari, or Bengali brought their own land with them when they came to Sindh. They knew they were going to someone else’s land. Therefore, they should respect the land that gave them refuge.
