PPP chairman criticises what he calls politics of hatred and division over Thar students’ MDCAT success and questions calls for new provinces.
Web Desk: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has criticised what he described as a “party of political orphans” for promoting what he called “Zionist politics” in Sindh.
Bilawal made the remarks on Monday while addressing a ceremony in Tharparkar for the inauguration of Phase III of the Thar Block-II coal mine expansion.
His comments came amid a controversy surrounding the recently announced Sindh Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) results, in which students from several districts outside Karachi secured top positions.
Bilawal criticises politics over MDCAT results
Bilawal said the strong performance of students from Tharparkar should be a source of pride rather than a reason for political controversy.
He criticised what he described as “politics of hatred and division” and said attempts to introduce such politics into Sindh would not succeed.
“You must have heard about Israel and Palestine, but they want to introduce this kind of politics to Sindh,” Bilawal said, according to Geo News and other Pakistani media reports.
The remarks followed criticism from Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Farooq Sattar over the MDCAT results and the absence of a Karachi Division candidate from Sindh’s top 20.
According to results reported from Sukkur IBA Testing Services, candidates from districts including Tharparkar, Shikarpur, Larkana and other parts of Sindh secured leading positions. Five students from Tharparkar were reported among the top 20.
Sattar had questioned whether the medical entrance examination could have remained unaffected by alleged political influence, an allegation that has not been established as fact.
Bilawal questions calls for new provinces
The PPP chairman also criticised arguments that Pakistan needs additional provinces because the existing governance system has failed.
Bilawal said he did not understand the logic behind such a proposal and argued that the development of Tharparkar demonstrated that existing constitutional and governance arrangements could deliver results.
He said that if Islamabad had failed, the capital should instead be handed over to the people of Tharparkar, who, he argued, could apply the development model used in the desert district.
The debate over new administrative units has intensified in recent months, with different political figures offering competing views on governance, devolution and the creation of additional provinces.
Thar coal expansion inaugurated
Bilawal’s remarks came during the inauguration of Phase III of the Thar Block-II coal mine expansion.
Radio Pakistan reported that Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Bilawal jointly inaugurated the project, which is expected to increase annual coal production capacity from 7.6 million tonnes to 11.2 million tonnes.
The expansion is also expected to support an additional 660-megawatt power plant, taking electricity generation linked to Thar coal to about 1,980 megawatts, according to officials cited by Radio Pakistan.
Bilawal highlighted Thar’s development in education, health and energy while presenting the region as an example that could be replicated elsewhere in Pakistan.
He also cited the economic benefits of Thar coal and said the project was helping reduce Pakistan’s reliance on imported energy. Dawn reported that Bilawal claimed the project was saving up to $1.6 billion in foreign exchange, while also citing employment figures for Sindh and Thar residents. These figures were presented by Bilawal and should be treated as claims unless independently verified.
Political dispute remains tied to MDCAT controversy
The MDCAT results have become a subject of wider public and political discussion after Karachi failed to place a candidate in the top 20.
Dawn reported that the highest score was 179 out of 180, while two Tharparkar candidates scored 178. The first Karachi candidate appeared at number 21 in the results.
Separately, reports have said the federal health authorities ordered an examination of concerns surrounding the Sindh MDCAT results. Any allegations of manipulation or irregularities remain matters for the relevant investigation and should not be treated as established findings.
Bilawal, meanwhile, has framed the success of Thar students as evidence that young people from less-developed districts can achieve strong academic results when provided with opportunities.
The political debate over the MDCAT results, Sindh governance and proposals for new provinces is expected to continue as competing parties present their positions.
