Political and military elite have ensured Sindhis and Muhajirs in the province hate each other. Muhajirs have historically looked down upon Sindhis as uncultured villagers who are either feudals or serfs. Even that, however, has unfortunately not translated into more empathy 1/n https://twitter.com/DeTrop_/status/1299651578669027329

for the so-called 'serfs' and there is widespread acceptance of the narrative of 'slave mentality' existing among exploited Sindhis. With the rise of Sindhi middle-class post-Bhutto, narrative has also included Sindhis stealing jobs in urban centres which they do not deserve. 2/n

Peoples Party being restricted to Sindhi voters hasn't helped either. Historically, there has been a small pocket of support among Muhajirs which is no more existent. Among the Sindhis there is this feeling of betrayal as they see Muhajirs as people who came as refugees but 3/n

became occupiers and joined oppressors. Recent history of violence in Khi has only made things worse. While Sindhis (and Baloch in Khi) are viewed as daakus and those who kill for petty reasons, Muhajirs are seen as supporters, and members, of MQM mafia. 4/n

Both claim that the other has infringed upon their rights and occupied their resources, and while both are true to an extent, in the larger scheme of things the common people on both sides have suffered, some more than others.

On jobs, Muhajirs claim Sindhis have been 5/n

unfairly rewarded via the official quota system as well as unofficial means. They point to Sindh Secretariat, some hospitals etc as examples. They are not wrong. But on the other hand, there are public unis in Khi with little representation of Sindhis. 6/n

Depts like KMC, fire dept are full of MQM supporters, many with multiple jobs. Civic Center is an example. And, while quota system did benefit rural Sindhis early on, it is no more the case now as Sindh urban seats also often remain vacant despite Muhajirs claiming otherwise 7/n

This can easily be checked via FPSC, SPSC websites. One of the reasons behind this is that pvt sector in Khi offers better paying opportunities with, at times, much less effort.

Situation is such in many parts of Sindh that there are places where people from one community 8/n

feel they do not belong, that they are hostile to them. I remember someone here saying they felt like that in Sindh Secretariat. I lived in Hyderabad and remember how scared we used to be going to Qasimabad. Areas of Latifabad and inner city were the same for Sindhis. And 9/n

Quite a bit of this has to do with language. Had we learnt Sindhi as children, would we face issues to the same extent? I would say no. At least the hostility in physical spaces would have been much lower. How else could one tell whether you were a Sindhi or a Muhajir? 10/n

While there was aversion initially perhaps bec one did not need to learn Sindhi, lately it has been to a large extent also because of hate. I remember Sindhi was among the more hated subjects in Muhajir households. It was thought of as something that was forced upon them. 11/n

The intention was ever only to learn it enough to be able to pass. Nobody wanted to learn it, despite the many practical benefits it brings, even if we ignore the cultural aspects. Sindhis feel the same about Urdu, as is evident esp from their views on Urdu media. 12/n

While for several reasons it is understandable why our forefathers got stuck in this mess, it is heartbreaking to see vitriol from young Sindhis and Muhajirs on social media and otherwise. If a solution to the problems of Sindh, including Karachi, has to be found, it has to 13/n

be via cooperation between all ethnic groups. Demanding a province, for example, does not help this case. The oppressed, the progressives, the exploited from among all residents of Sindh need to come together to get out of this mess. Hateful comments generalising 14/n

communities into monolith groups won't help anyone. Will only breed more hate which will benefit only the elite.

Rather than demanding a province, I believe Karachiites should try to reach out to oppressed Sindhis. Why should Karachiites reach out? Because we have 15/n

a voice that someone living in a village does not have. We have a degree of privilege, socio-political and economic capital that we need to start making use of to build communities and movements. Trans-ethnic movements but those that do not defy ethnicity but embrace it. 16/16