A series of well-coordinated low intensity bomb attacks in the major cities of Sindh on Tuesday created panic. These simultaneous blasts and some incidents of firing suggest that those responsible have a province-wide organization and capability. That this could expand into an even deadlier situation cannot be ruled out and requires a nuanced response strategy. The 30 attacks pulled off 17 explosions and killed one policeman while injuring three people. At least three vehicles were torched and a motorcycle destroyed. The attackers threw hand grenades and resorted to firing at different places. This entire assault was over within a span of ten minutes. No one has so far taken responsibility for the attacks but the finger of suspicion is being pointed at the Jiay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM), which had called for a strike in Sindh on Wednesday. The strike was called to protest against the newly enacted Pakistan Protection Ordinance, which the JSMM fears could be used against dissidents in Sindh.
Sindhi nationalism has grown over the years on the perception that the federal government and essentially Punjab have violated the rights of smaller provinces. The grievance of the Sindhi nationalists of being marginalized stems from issues that have been mismanaged over many years. Over the last two decades it was MQM that was blessed through the urban-rural divide in Sindh, while before that a similar nuance, the Urdu-speakers’ influx into the province, triggered Sindhi nationalism as a reaction. Allowing the perceived privileging of the Urdu speakers in terms of employment and economic opportunities has resulted by now in some of the nationalist forces turning to militancy.
The Water Accord of 1991 has been left unattended with no effort to address Sindh’s persistent complaints of being short-changed in its share of water. The Accord’s provision to conduct studies to determine the annual quantum of water to be released in the Indus (Sindh’s only fresh water source) south of Kotri has been left to wither on the vine, with the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) twisting its purpose by releasing the provisional quantum of 10 MAF per annum in the summer peak floods season, leaving the river’s bed south of Kotri a desert of sand for the rest of the year. This has resulted in salty seawater intrusion into the delta, ruining agriculture, the mangrove forests, and with them the diverse flora and fauna of the coastal areas. On the other hand, the local government system instituted in the last government (since repealed) was seen as reflecting the penchant of MQM to dominate the cities and urban areas of the province and militating (once more) against the rights of the Sindhis. These and other such issues stoking militant Sindh nationalism must be addressed to normalize the situation, lest one more province falls prey to widespread disturbance to add to the miseries of Karachi. *