THATTA, Dec 22: The contentious issue of bifurcation of Thatta district resurfaced at an informal meeting between Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and local Pakistan People’s Party leaders at Makli Circuit House recently in which the leaders weighed different options in a possible setup in future.

The meeting attended by Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Ali Mirza, Minister for Coordination Jalil Memon, adviser to CM Ghulam Qadir Malkani, PPP MPA Humera Alwani, Ghulam Qadir Palijo, father of provincial minister Sassui Palijo, the party’s Thatta president Arbab Wazir Ahmed Memon and local party leader Dr Altaf Khwaja debated the subject put forward by Jalil Memon.

They deliberated on the issue in view of upcoming local bodies’ elections and demarcation and reformation of constituencies in Sindh probably by March next year.

The party leaders belonging to Thatta and Mirpur Sakro talukas said in guarded language that the party appeared to have a change of heart for its past political rivals, the Shirazi group, and said that it was high time the government created a new district, which had first been proposed by Jam Sadiq Ali’s government.

Jalil Memon argued that the existing Thatta district was geographically too large and administratively difficult to manage. Thatta’s part which comprised Thatta and Mirpur Sakro talukas, was rich as it generated revenues from Keti Bundar port cum fish harbour, Haleji and Keenjhar lakes and Sonda coal field, he said.

Some of the leaders who supported creation of a new district on the right bank of the river hinted at aspiring for the district nazim office in the next local bodies’ setup.

Wazir Memon, Ghulam Qadir Malkani, Altaf Khwaja and others, whose were based in Sujawal sub-division opposed the idea and said that the new situation would harm their political entities.

According to insiders, the chief minister advised both the groups to avoid debate on the issue because it was premature.