Karachi: The Sindh Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution calling upon the federal government to immediately withdraw its presidential ordinance to establish Pakistan Islands’ Development Authority (PIDA) as it is aimed at unlawful annexation of two islands off Karachi’s coast that are an integral part of Sindh.
The session of the provincial assembly was especially convened to consider the federal government’s move to establish the PIDA through a presidential ordinance to develop the two islands off Karachi’s coast into modern cities.
The resolution on the issue was presented by lawmaker of ruling Pakistan Peoples’ Party, Mahmood Alam Jamot, who represents those coastal areas of Karachi whose fishermen are likely to be affected due to the development of two islands as it would result in phenomenal depletion of the fisheries resources.
The resolution stated that the presidential ordinance in question should be withdrawn immediately as through it the federal government had made an unconstitutional attempt to alter the boundaries of Sindh province.
The resolution states: “The Ordinance was promulgated in an unlawful manner and in violation of Article 97 of the Constitution to give unauthorized and unlawful control as well as ownership of Bundal and Buddo Islands (the two islands off the Karachi’s coast) to the federal government which exclusively belongs to the Province of Sindh”.
The resolution goes on to say: “All islands along the coast of a province are the exclusive property of the respective Provincial Government in view of the provisions of the Article-172 of the Constitution.
Under the ordinance, the ownership of Bundal and Buddo Islands, in derogation of the Constitution has been unlawfully assumed by the federal government, which tantamount to altering the limits of the province.
The people of the province of Sindh cannot allow any violation of the Constitution as well as usurpation of rights over the ownership of the Bundal and Buddo Islands or any other right or property of the province.”
Speaking on the resolution, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that his government could not hold any discussion with the federal government on the issue of islands till the time it didn’t withdraw its unconstitutional presidential ordinance.
