KARACHI: Political workers, human rights activists, intellectuals, lawyers and members of civil society took to the streets on Sunday, marching from Regal Chowk to the Karachi Press Club (KPC) and vowing to resist any “conspiracy” to divide Sindh and create new provinces or administrative units in the province.

The protesters, who participated in “Wahdat-i-Sindh March” organised on the call of the Sindh United Party (SUP) and Sindh United Lawyers Forum (SULF), said no attempt to alter Sindh’s geographical and administrative unity under any name or pretext would be allowed to succeed. They demanded that the authorities refrain from any such move.

The march was led by SUP senior vice president Roshan Ali Buriro. It passed through Shahrah-i-Liaquat, the Sindh Assembly, Court Road and Sarwar Shaheed Road before reaching the KPC, where the participants held a gathering.

Addressing the protesters, Mr Buriro said the administrative unity of Sindh was not merely a line drawn on a map but “a historical, geographical, cultural and political reality that had evolved over centuries”. He rejected any proposal to divide the province into new provinces or administrative units.

Participants call for protection of Sindh’s land, water and resources

“There can be no compromise on the unity of Sindh. Any attempt to divide the province, whatever name or formula is used, will not be acceptable,” he said.

Mr Buriro alleged that plans for new provinces and administrative units were aimed at paving the way for control of Sindh’s land, water and natural resources. He also criticised schemes for new canals from the Indus River, saying postponement of such projects was not enough and that they should be abandoned altogether.

“The people of Sindh will not accept any bargain or ambiguous policy on their water rights,” he said.

Advocate Ameer Azad Panhwar, in his address, said the campaign for Sindh’s unity was not directed against any particular language-speaking community. He said all citizens who regarded Sindh as their home were equal inhabitants of the province and had a stake in protecting its peace, unity and constitutional rights.

The speakers also referred to the Pakistan Resolution, arguing that its federal principle and the concept of provincial autonomy could not be ignored. They said Pakistan was a federation whose strength lay in constitutional supremacy, provincial autonomy, mutual respect and an equitable distribution of resources.

They warned that attempts to weaken the administrative and geographical unity of Sindh could have implications not only for the province but also for the federal structure of the country.

They demanded that the government refrain from any move to alter Sindh’s geographical boundaries or establish new administrative units in the province. They also called for action under the Constitution and law against those allegedly involved in efforts to divide Sindh.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2026