News Desk: Karachi was on edge as rallies marking Sindhi Culture Day transformed into one of the city’s most forceful separatist agitations in years. What began as a cultural celebration turned into fiery protests demanding an independent Sindhudesh, triggering clashes that rattled multiple neighbourhoods.
Separatist Slogans Trigger Unrest
Hundreds of activists linked to the Jiye Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSSM) marched through central Karachi shouting “Azadi!” and other anti-state slogans. Witnesses said protesters hurled stones and vandalised vehicles after police diverted their planned route, turning the demonstration into a full-blown confrontation.
Massive protests openly demand “Sindhudesh”, a separate country. Decades of exploitation, disappearances, land grabs & economic ruin have pushed Sindhis past the point of fear.
Balochistan, KP & GB/PoJK already in revolt under Munir, Pakistan is breaking.#MunirRulesPak@ibdutt pic.twitter.com/lcpgjF9DB8— Anupama Jammwal (@AnupamaJammwal) December 8, 2025
Police responded with tear gas and baton charges, detaining dozens of protesters. Local reports said at least 45 arrests were made and several police personnel were injured during the melee.
Decades-Old Demand Resurfaces
The Sindhudesh call — rooted in a nationalist movement dating back to the late 1960s — has long accused the Pakistani state of political marginalisation, rights abuses and suppression of Sindhi identity. Though separatist groups lack mainstream political traction, their supporters frequently use cultural events to assert calls for autonomy or independence.
Pakistan Government Promises Stern Action
Sindh authorities have ordered a crackdown on those involved in the violence, with police directed to identify individuals caught vandalising public property and attacking law-enforcement vehicles.
Security officials say the unrest appears “orchestrated” by groups operating from abroad, referencing exiled nationalist leaders who have been lobbying international bodies to recognise Sindhudesh as a separate nation.
A Flashpoint Amid Political Chatter
The flare-up comes amid renewed debate in Pakistan over provincial rights and the impact of the 18th Constitutional Amendment, which devolved more authority to provinces. Statements from political figures in recent weeks have also revived chatter around Sindh’s identity politics.
For now, Karachi remains under heightened security, with authorities bracing for potential spillover protests in other Sindh districts.
