Indus Asia Online

London APC: Peoples’ Expectations, MQM & MMA, etc

By Aziz Narejo, TX, USA

The All Parties’ Conference is finally underway in London , UK after months of delays. The people in Pakistan as well as the expatriates have been looking forward to it with a hope that the collective wisdom and joint action of the country’s political leadership would provide them deliverance from the authoritarian and the oppressive military dictatorship.

I hope the leaders meeting in London would meet the expectations of the people and would make appropriate decisions and prepare a plan to end the military rule and close the doors on any military intervention in civilian affairs in future.

The leaders have to declare it in clear terms that they would not accept any military general/s in uniform or without uniform to be part of government. They also have to make a pledge that they would not be a party to an understanding that would allow any military role in politics. We have to stop military interference in civilian affairs if we want the country to survive.

To achieve the objective, the leaders have to decide to end the over-centralization of powers. They have to give maximum autonomy to provinces making them owners of all their resources. Each province should make proportional contribution to meet the drastically reduced federal expenses with only three or so subjects. A justly composed Senate should be powerful and should oversee the working of all federal departments.

The APC also should take a clear stand on MQM, the Karachi-based terrorist organization that is the main ally of the military dictatorship and is the enemy number one of the political parties, democracy and peace in the country. APC should devise ways to liberate the people of Karachi and Sindh urban areas from MQM terrorism so that they can freely chose their representatives.

There should not be any place for violence and terrorism in the country.

The political leadership meeting in London has great responsibilities. The legal community has done its part. Let’s see if the political parties rise to the occasion and fulfill their responsibilities to the country and the people.

One would also like to comment on the dual role of MMA. They are partners of the government in Balochistan and have sole control over the NWFP. They are playing the ‘official’ opposition in the National Assembly and supported the general to keep his uniform and rule the country while remaining chief of the army. They have to quit the government and ally themselves with the opposition.

Also it is hard to understand their proposal to form another 'grand opposition' alliance. Why can’t they make up their mind to be part of the opposition and join the ARD, which is already there and is hosting the London APC? A new alliance may never materialize and in that case a decisive movement against the usurpers and the terrorists would remain in limbo. Is that what MMA wants?

MQM, Its claims & the development work in Sindh: Actions speak louder

By: Aziz Narejo, USA
[Please note: The writer is the President of Sindhi Association of North America, SANA.]
Birth of MQM is a recent phenomenon. Many people would be aware of the circumstances and the forces that who were behind its rise. They would also be aware of the events of mid 80s and 90s that saw the organization in action especially in Karachi. One can safely say that we know of two different Karachis – one pre-MQM and the other post-MQM. Most of the people would also be well aware of the difference between the two.
It is only recently that the organization has started talking of changing its colors. It has changed its name from Muhajir Qaumi Movement to Muttahida Qaumi Movement. It now claims to be a mainstream party and its boss frequently speaks of fighting for the rights of Sindh and the downtrodden people everywhere else in the country.
But what do its actions tell us? Its efforts to grab lands, resources, employment and economic opportunities in Sindh, creation of new districts aimed at gaining political power in different areas, its ceaseless campaign for migration to Sindh from India and Bangladesh to increase its vote bank and the use of brute force and violence to annihilate other political forces from its areas of influence don’t conform with its claims. ...
The current position is that President has given a Special Development Package of Rs. 50 billion for 5 years to the MQM led City District Government Karachi. The projects from this money are mostly being undertaken in the former Central, East and North districts leaving aside Malir and South which have a high concentration of indigenous communities and/or the cantonments/ DHA managed locations.
The ADB Karachi mega city project has a provision of $800 million out of which $150 million are for consulting and training programs while the rest is investment in infrastructure. Most of that too is planned to be spent in the above locations i.e. in the 12 towns in which the MQM has its Nazims. The remaining 6 towns where the Nazims are Sindhi, Baloch, Punjabi and Pathans, there is no scheme worth mentioning.
Out of the 192 union councils of Karachi, some 40 have indigenous communities including Sindhi, Baloch and old residents. These are receiving only Rs. 10 million each in terms of development grants while the total budget of CDGK is Rs. 43 billion. Sindh Government is contributing over Rs. 25 billion to Karachi each year from its budgetary resources. All other districts in Sindh are getting only Rs. 1 to 2.2 billion each per annum. Karachi is certainly claiming a lion's share these days.
One would again make it clear that the people of Sindh are not unhappy about the development work in their own Karachi – their own limb - the capital of their province, they only demand same attention to other parts in the province. They dont understand or believe the MQM, as it says one thing but means and acts diametrically different.

Politicized ethnic based anti-Sindhi policies of present regime are not acceptable says Ayaz Latif Paijo

Human Rights Lawyer and the Chairman, Forum For Rights Justice and Peace (FRJP), Advocate Ayaz Latif Palijo has said the numerous belief systems have had innumerable self-seeking and biased interpreters, all claiming authority from their chosen God to consider only their favorite interpretation as right and all others are wrong. He was addressing a women Seminar in Pearl Continental Hotel Lahore and Sindh Graduates Association (SGA), Human Rights seminar in Arts Council Karachi. He traced the political constitutional history of Pakistan and emphasized on human rights and liberties of Pakistani citizens. He said the common men have no bearing, the Constitution is trampled and so are the basic human rights of the people. He spoke eloquently about the fact that Quaid e Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah had envisaged a very different Pakistan from the one that the feudals and generals recreated to serve their own interests. Referring to religious extremism he said while we are busy in discussing the issues of international politics, IMF, World Bank, revolution, provincial autonomy, nationalism and modern and classic literature, the molvis, rightists feudals and religious fanatics are destroying already wounded Pakhtoon. Baloch and Seraiki belt, economically and socially. The ban on modern English education, activities of NGOs and progressive literature, repression of women, many of whom live like as prisoners in their own homes, is only a harsh symptom of a larger disease.
He called upon all journalists, writers, intellectuals, politicians and civilized people of the Pakistan, Asia and World to raise their voice
against this autocratic dictatorship involved in genocide of 40 million Sindhis. He said Sindhis cannot remain silent when their homeland is subjected to threats of dismemberment, and hateful attempts are kept on at converting them into a minority within their home-land. He said the violation of all international conventions, regarding human rights and security of civilian population in this conflict situation, has been reported by international media and neutral observers. He said the Government has been engaged in arbitrary arrests, torture and extra-judicial killing of democracy loving activists belonging to province of Sindh and Balochistan. Ayaz Latif Palijo demanded that Pakistan's Penal and Criminal Procedural Laws be amended to protect and facilitate the innocent women, children and minorities. He said the forced conversion, diyat laws, blasphemy laws and hudood ordinance are in violation of Fundamental Rights and Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
He attributed violence against women to religious intolerance and discriminatory laws. He said the human rights movement and the democratic movement are interlinked but the women have no say in policy making. He further said that today, people of Sindh are under an oppressive rule, with most people forced to live in abject poverty. On the one hand illicit sex, infidelity and outright prostitution are rising, and on other hand, there are more murders,
suicides, and honor killings.
He said the politicized ethnic based anti-Sindhi policies of present regime are not acceptable. He said the entire system is dysfunctional and the rise in crime and violation of rights is evident. He criticized the role of martial-law regimes in pressurizing the Judiciary. He said during Zia ul Haqs tenure, judiciary took sides with the military regime, while under General Musharraf, institutions are subordinate to establishment and they have willingly accepted this role and is literally unable to deliver justice and to protect the rights of the nations and provinces. He said all the smaller provinces are occupied by the Pakistan Establishment and revenue from all natural resources are flowing to the ruling elite. He urged the former judges, human rights activists, Zameendars and political leaders not to compromises and to join in the efforts for the rights of poor masses and to join the peace loving common Sindhis, Balochs and Seraiks on roads. Others who spoke on the occasion included Former Chief Justice Nasir Aslam
Zahid, Noor Naz Agha, Khaliq Junejo and others.

Dr. Wahid Baloch Meets U.S. Senators
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS --- The secretary general of the newly-formed American Friends of Balochistan, Dr Wahid Baloch, on Wednesday met three legendary members of the U.S. Senate in Chicago and told them about the situation in Balochistan.
The U.S. Senators were Edward Kennedy (Massachussetts) , Charles Schumer (New York) and Barack Obama (Illinois).
The complete text of Dr Baloch's letter to the US senators;
On behalf of the people of Balochistan, I would like to draw your attention to the deteriorating human rights condition in Pakistani occupied Balochistan and Sindh provinces where Pakistan's Islamic jihadist terrorist army and its security forces are engaged in state terrorism and genocide of innocent Baloch and Sindhi people, where arrests, kidnappings, disappearances and illegal detention of moderate secular Baloch and Sindhi students, political workers and leaders by Pakistani police and military intelligence agencies, including the infamous Inter Services Intelligence ( I.S.I.), have become an every day occurrence. Let me please draw your attention to some of the facts:
As you know, Islamic Republic of Pakistan was created out of India in 1947 as a result of the famous "Lahore resolution", adopted by the All India Muslim League to form an independent Islamic State for Indian Muslims, which stated that Pakistan would be a federation where all the federating units will have full provincial autonomy and equal rights. Pakistan never honored its own founding resolution.
Balochistan was never a part of the Indian sub-continent, but was an independent sovereign state with its own Parliaments, House of Lords (Dar-ul-Umrah) and House of Common (Dar-ul-Awam) with His Highness Mir Ahmad Yar Khan as its ruler, with whom the British Government had signed bilateral treaties in 1854 and 1876. Pakistan herself, after its creation, recognized Balochistan as a sovereign state in 1947 and that status continued for seven and half months.
The secular people of Balochistan did not participate in the creation of the fundamentalist Islamic entity called Pakistan, which in itself is not a very legitimate organization as subsequent army coups have proved. Balochistan wanted to remain an independent, secular state but on March 27, 1948 Pakistan annexed Balochistan by force.
Since the forceful annexation of Balochistan in 1948, Baloch people have time and again fought against Islamabad and are still fighting against the Pakistani occupying forces to restore their independence and freedom, and in fac thgeir human dignity. Thousands people have died in this conflict and millions have been dislocated from their homes and families.
More than 6000 Baloch students and moderate Baloch political activists are languishing in Pakistani jails and prisons for the since last one year when Pakistani Army launched the 5th military operation in Balochistan. Many are missing and are being tortured in army-run detention camps in Balochistan, while Taliban and Al-Qaeda elements are roaming around in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan scot-free with support of Pakistani Inter Service Intelligence ( I.S.I.) and the military.
Taliban and Al-Qaeda's top leaders Mullah Omar and Osama bin Laden are still hiding in Pakistan with full knowledge and we belive they under the protection of the I.S.I.
Pakistan claims to be a U.S. ally but its recent "peace deal" with Taliban and Al-Qaeda terrorist in Waziristan proves otherwise. The fact is that Pakistan has never been and never was an ally against the war of its own created Taliban and Al-Qaeda terrorists. Small wonder even after five years, we have not been able to capture Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar.
Pakistan Air Force fighter jets, army gunship helicopters and military hardware provided by our US Government to eliminate Al-Qaeda and Taliban elements, are being used against the Baloch people. More then 1600 hundred people, including women and children, have been reported killed in the war in the last one year.
On August 26, 2006 Pakistan assassinated a secular, pro-American Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and his bodyguards in a massive military raid on his hideout in the mountains of Balochistan using gunship helicopters and F-16 fighter jets. They dropped cluster bombs and other chemical weapons. They then buried his body secretly against the family's wishes. His mortal remains were never returned to the bereaved family. News of Nawab Bugti's death sent shock waves throughout Pakistan and paralyzed the whole of Balochistan.
On May 28, 1998 Pakistan carried out its five nuclear tests in Balochistan, though the Baloch people said "NO" to all kind of nuclear testing in their homeland. Baloch Nation asks the United Nation, the International Community and the International Court of Justice to investigate the effects of those nuclear tests and the Baloch losses including homelessness and dislocation. An independent, free Balochistan would not only be a big blow to the nuclear-armed Pakistan and Iran but would also help eradicate Islamic extremism and terrorism in entire South Asia. With the liberation of Kurdistan and Balochistan, the losers will be Taliban, Al-Qaeda and their Islamic supporter Pakistan and Iran. The winners will be Baloch, Kurd, U.S.A., Afghanistan, India and State of Israel. Therefore the U.S, must support and help liberate Balochistan and Kurdistan.
The Gwadar port being built with the help of China on the Mekran coast of Balochistan. The goal is to facilitate China install its listening devices to monitor the U.S. oil supplies and energy routes in the Persian Gulf and to bring millions of non-Baloch Punjabi to change Baloch demography and to turn the Baloch people into minority in their own homeland despite the strong Baloch opposition.
We Baloch people like the Kurd of Iraq, are secular and pro-American and we share many American values. Baloch people want a check on Islamic extremism. We are the victims of militaristic ambitions of two Islamic terrorist states, Pakistan and Iran, who are occupying our land illegally in the name of Islam. We Baloch people are struggling for our freedom. An independent secular free Balochistan in south Asia is in everyone's interest, including USA, India, Afghanistan, Iraq, Middle East, and Israel. In short, in the interest of the entire Free World.
The United States future strategic requirements would be better served by emergence of an INDEPENDENT BALOCHISTAN as a strategic wedge between Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. It would also help co-opt Pakistani blackmail of using its proximity to the Gulf and Straits of Hormuz as a bargaining chip against the United States.
The acts of terror and humiliation and a continuum of state terrorism will not only increase the ever present tension and hatred between Baloch people and Pakistani police state, but it could lead to a point where an even more bloody confrontation between Baloch and the Pakistani state would become inevitable, resulting in the loss of life and properties of defenseless Baloch people.
The Pakistan Army is continuously and contemptuously ignoring the appeals of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Amnesty International and other human right groups for the release of illegal detainees. The Baloch people demand their political, economic and social rights, guaranteed by the international human rights laws, instruments and declarations. Immediate intervention by the European Union and the Free World in general and by the U.S. Government in particular. This will help save lives and prevent the kind of genocide of the Baloch people by the Pakistani army that the world witnessed in East Pakistan during 1971. We urge you to act, proactively, before its too late.
On behalf of the people of Balochistan, the American Friends of Balochistan (AFB), Government of Balochistan (GOB) in Exile, Baloch Society of North America (BSO-NA), World Baloch Jewish Alliance (WBJA) we appeals to the U.S. government to please intervene to help to stop the genocide and human right violations in Balochistan before it is too late. Your help to Balochistan can be effective if the effort is made truly bi-partisan.
"The people of Balochistan will highly appreciate your kind immediate attention and positive intervention in this matter. Please help save innocent lives, now," Dr Baloch's letter concluded.
Prominent Baloch activist Afzal Bugti was also present at the meeeting./ [The opinions, beliefs and wishes are expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the policy of editor, IAO.]

 :::

Jaag mairay Punjab, Keh Pakistan Chala

NOT IN OUR NAME: Punjabi Activists Condemn Military Action in Balochistan
Washington, D. C. 9/03/06 A number of prominent Pakistani activists of Punjabi origin professors, physicians, poets, writers, literary critics, journalists and business people - have issued a jointly issued a statement condemning Gen Musharrafs government for the military action which has resulted in the deaths of octogenarian politician Akbar Bugti and several of his colleagues, thus causing further alienation among peoples and provinces of Pakistan.
This statement is a testimony that the people of Punjab, with the exception of a few feudal families, stand with the People of Balochistan and not with the Musharraf regime, statement coordinator Dr. Ashraf Toor said.
We the undersigned Pakistanis and Pakistani- Americans of Punjabi origin resolutely condemn the recent military action which has resulted in the deaths of Nawab Akbar Bugti and several of his colleagues.
This callous act is a logical outcome of a dictatorial rule and not of any interethnic strife. It is a manifestation of the ongoing state-versus- civil society conflict in Pakistan.
For far too long, the federal rulers have manipulated and mobilized Punjabi public opinion to oppress, exploit and even militarily attack people in other provinces. But the times have changed. We have learnt from our past mistakes. We have learnt from the tragedy of East Pakistan.
Today, we affirmatively respond to the call of our great poet Habib Jalib, who had written: Jaag mairay Punjab, Keh Pakistan Chala (Wake up my Punjab, or Pakistan shall be no more). Punjab is wide awake and it does not support the military regimes attempt to muzzle any section of the Pakistani society. Today, the people of Punjab, with the exception of a few feudal families, stand with the People of Balochistan and not with the Musharraf regime.
Recognizing the potential volatility of the present situation, we offer a four-point formula to resolve this crisis and rebuild amity among all peoples of Pakistan. Expressing solidarity with the people of Balochistan, these activists have offered a four-point formula to resolve the present crisis:  1 - We urge the Supreme Court of Pakistan to conduct a suo moto inquiry of these killings. 2 In keeping with that the recent ruling of the Supreme Court of Pakistan that the Council of Common Interest (CCI), as mandated by Articles 153 and 154 of the Constitution, is a cornerstone of the federal structure providing protection of the rights of the federating units, we call for an immediate meeting of the Council of Common Interest to devise a new - just and fair - framework for redistribution of powers among the federal and provincial governments and for a more equitable distribution of national resources among the provinces. 3. We call on Pakistani political parties to turn the 2007 election into a national referendum about civilian supremacy, provincial autonomy and social justice as enshrined in the 1973 Constitution. 4. We urge the Pakistani media to organize a national debate about the interlocked problems of militarism, feudalism, and tribalism and help eradicate these problems in the context of constitutional democracy, rule of law, due process, equal justice, accountability, transparency and good governance. Signatories (alphabetically listed)- 1. Abid Malik, 2. Amer Chaudhry, 3.     Ashraf Qazi , 4. Dr. Ashraf Toor, 5. Dr. Bashir Syed, 6. Dr. Khalid Luqman , 7. Dr. Manzur Ejaz, 8. Dr. Riaz Ahmed, 9. Dr. Tahir Rohail, 10. Haji Jameel , 11. Mohammed Siddique, 12. Munir Chaudhry, 13. Naseem Sarwar, 14. Noshi Gilani, 15. Prof. Agha Saeed, 16. Prof. Anwar Syed, 17. Prof. Fawzia Afzal Khan, 18. Prof. Mohammad Akram, 19. Prof. S. M. Ghazanfar, 20. Raheela Yaqub, 21. Raja M. Yaqub, 22. Saad Shiekh, 23. Sajjad Burki, 24. Saleem Akhtar, 25. Shafqat Chaudhry, 26. Shiekh Yunus Siddiq, 27. Syed Adeeb, 28. Syed Bashart Ali, 29. Tariq Virk, 30. Tashi Zaheer.

The right to self determination for all people in the world

Washington, DC: On Sept.8/06, at the Capitol Hill Washington, USA The World Sindhi Institute in (WSI) has organized a demonstration in coordination for the cause of human rights and democracy. Participants of the rally included men, women and children and from many of them clad in typical traditional Sindhi scarves Ajrak and some ladies wearing Balochi embroidered out fits visually portrayed that the group had assembled for the cause of Balochistan and Sindh. There were representatives of some non-profit organizations as well as business and political persons from Sindh and Balochistan. Some people from other parts of Pakistan as well as a few Baloch from Iran were also present. Their passion and enthusiasm was by far the most interesting aspect of the rally, which drew the attention of on-lookers, passers-by and media equally. Press and media, both local and international took keen interest in taking photographs of the colorful posters, interviewing individual participants and covering the whole event for newspapers, television and radio. One of the participants of rally and Chairman Think-tank for National Self-determination, Inc. (TNS), Walter Lendry urged the U.S. Government to support through acts and speeches, the right to self determination for all people in the world, including the Baloch and Sindhi. He gave a background of the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which the U.S. ratified in 1992. He tried to enunciate the principle that after ratifying the covenant, it is an obligation of the U.S. Government to have a foreign relations policy based on supporting self determination of all. This incidence of a Baloch leaders murder should compel USA to make sure that support to Pakistan Government in form of arms is not directed towards her own people, who are struggling for a just cause and a right that is legally and morally acknowledged by all signatories of the United Nations Covenant on Right to Self Determination.

Ms. Tasleem Mazhar from Hyderabad, Sindh assured the participants of support on behalf of all Sindhi people, as she said the Baloch and Sindhi cause are not much different from each other. We have to unite against the atrocities and struggle against any and every military regime in Pakistan, because this is absolutely against the principles of Democracy, which we aspire for our region.

Ex- Pak Air Force Chief says- Killing of Bugti a blow to national unity -ISLAMABAD, Aug 29: Former Air Force chief Air MarshalNur Khan has roundly condemned the ruling Muslim League leadership, specially its president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and its secretary-general Mushahid Hussain Syed, for continuing to serve the Gen. Musharraf regime even after the murder of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti at the hands of a contingent of Army. They claim to have been very good friends of the late Bugti. Shujaat never tires of expressing his indebtedness to the Nawab for saving his fathers life when Z.A. Bhutto, the then prime minister, had reportedly instructed Bugti, then governor of Balochistan to have his father Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi, who was then in the provincial jail, killed. And look at Mushahid. He was among the three whom Bugti had named for hearing his case and had promised to accept whatever their verdict. Is this how one pays back trusted friends? asked Nur Khan. The two seem to be running with the hare and hunting with the hound, he added bitterly. Nur Khan said, it was the PML which is providing the military junta the all important political life support, without which, Gen Musharraf would not last single day. But without Gen Musharraf the PML will not last a single minute and that perhaps is why it feels compelled to go along with the military dictator no matter what the moral and political price, he added. Nur Khan, who as the governor of the defunct West Pakistan, had negotiated with the estranged Baloch Sardars, including Akbar Khan Bugti, in the late 1960s and brought them back into the mainstream politics, said he had found all these Sardars to be highly patriotic and devoted to Pakistan. I would trust them more than I would trust any other Pakistani to die for Pakistan, he said. They were alienated because of the way the Centre was treating them and their people. Because of the continuous neglect a sense of deprivation had taken hold of them. They needed to be given a sense of belonging. They were all men of honour. So, it was not all that difficult for me then to negotiate with them and get them back into the mainstream, he added. He said Bugtis death would add a new and perhaps even a violent urgency to the demands of provincial autonomy by the smaller provinces and the Centre would ultimately be forced to concede to the very demands for which Bugti and his clan had taken up arms against the Musharraf regime. Referring to Musharrafs warning that who ever wanted to harm Pakistan nationally or internationally would have to fight him first, Nur Khan advised the president to have a look in the mirror. He would find that he himself is the guilty party. He said, Bugtis murder had dealt a severe blow to the unity of the country.

Ex- Pak generals, MPs want military out of politics
A group of retired generals, sitting and former parliamentarians and academics have called for disengagement of military from political power by separating the offices of the president and army chief. Those who have signed the letter are Lt. Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir, Lt- Gen (retd) Asad Durrani, Javed Jabbar, Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi, Dr Khlida Ghous, Lt- Gen (retd) Moinuddin Hiader, Mujibur Rehman Shami, ruling PML Senator S.M. Zafar, PML- N leader Sartaj Aziz, Brig (retd) Shaukat Qadir, PPP MNA Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Lt- Gen (retd) Talat Masood, Lt- Gen (retd) S. Tanwir H. Naqvi, Shafqat Mahmood, Dr Parvez Hassan, Shahid Hamid, Lt- Gen (retd) Hameed Gul and Ahmed Bilal Mehbood./

Military subverted democracy in Pak repeatedly: Ex-Pak Air Force Chief- Islamabad, July 15: Accusing the Pakistani military of subverting democracy with repeated coups, former Air Force Chief Noor Khan has said it was Pakistans army which went to war with India both in 1965 and 1971 provoking retaliation. He said all the military rulers from Ayub Khan should take the blame for the present mess and asked President Pervez Musharraf to hold fair elections and quit power. Khan, who served as Pakistan Air Chief from 1965 to 1969, said every military ruler, be it Ayub, Yahya, Zia-Ul Haq or Musharraf, made the serious mistake of involving the army in politics. Lack of acumen on their part confronted the nation with repeated crises such as the Indo-Pak war of 1965, east Pakistan debacle (Bangladesh) and Kargil, he was quoted as saying in the nation daily. It was the follies of the military rulers that led the country to war more than once, he said adding Indians were wrongly blamed for the wars of 1965 and 1971. Khan said the seven-year rule of President Musharraf has given nothing to the nation and the country would have been much better off had the General done whatever he had announced to do at the onset of his rule. He said Pakistans goal must be to raise the living standards of the people. If we over take India in this regard we would be far better off as compared to Indian people. We need a strong political resolve instead of indulging in a useless arms race with India./

It is Not Only Afghanis and Iraqis That Need Democracy
By- Aziz Narejo, USA
One is dismayed at the strong pat on the back the Pakistani dictator receives every time he visits USA. Why is it that the US administration so conveniently forgets it’s crusade for democracy in Muslim countries, while dealing with the dictator in Pakistan? Could US policy- makers tell us what is the rationale behind the thinking that there could ever be good or bad dictators? One also wonders why American policy makers can not figure out the reasons behind their country’s un-enviable reputation in the world despite spending billions of dollars on aid to poor countries. Doesn’t it have anything to do with the super power’s unqualified support to dictators if they do its bidding despite facing immense opposition from their own people? Remember Pinochet of Chile and Shah of Iran? Isn’t it true that various US administrations have extended full support to all the military dictators in Pakistan? How can they still expect to earn the goodwill of the people of Pakistan? Or any other people in the world for that matter?
Isn’t it in the interest of the US and other western countries to reconsider their policy to fight terrorism? Wouldn’t they have a real chance to root out terrorism if they happened to be on the side of the people and not on the side of the dictators and if they supported true democracy everywhere and not at few chosen places like Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran and Syria. Why highly paid American scholars and officials can not see what is so obvious to the ordinary citizens of the poor and illiterate third world?/

New Constitution, Provincial Autonomy, Revenue & Resources

Following Five Point National Declaration is unanimously
adopted by Qomi Conference of Awami Tahreek at Bhit
Shah Sindh, Pakistan.
1.      For making Pakistan a truly inclusive, representative and
structurally balanced state a new genuine constituent assembly be elected
based on equal representation from all provinces to frame a new constitution
based on resolutions of 23rd March 1940 and 12th April 1946, wherein all
subjects of federal and concurrent lists and all resources including water,
electricity, petroleum, gas, ports, communications, coastal lines, minerals
etc be given to the provinces and center be given only three subjects: (i)
defense, (ii) foreign affairs and (iii) currency. To achieve the goal of a
true union that was articulated in the resolutions of 1940 and 1946, the
Sindhi People demand equality within Pakistan. Sindh demands an
uninterrupted right to choose its representative governments through
genuine, free and fair elections under a genuinely impartial election
commission appointed by both the ruling party and the opposition and
empowering them to effectively serve their complete terms in various
legislative assemblies of the nation. The right to collection and total
ownership of all taxes and revenues including sales tax and excise duty
shall be vested in the federating units. The new constitution should
guarantee full provincial autonomy, religious harmony and tolerance,
institution of full democracy and an assurance that the new constitution
would never be violated. The foreign policy of Pakistan should be formulated
and articulated with the consultation of democratically elected legitimate
governments of all federating units.

Water & Indus River:

2.      Depriving Sindh of its primary right over the waters of Indus is an
unlawful and illegitimate piracy of Sindh's natural resources. No project of
any kind, detrimental to the interest of Sindh or other smaller provinces be
planned or implemented. There should be no more dams on the Indus River
whatsoever neither Kalabagh Dam, nor Bhasha nor any other dam. There should
be no more cuts on or diversions of Indus waters. The canals built without
permission of Sindh, including Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal, Taunsa-Panjnad
Link Canal and Greater Thal Canal be closed for ever. A compensation of Rs.
500 billions be paid by the Federal Government to the Sindhi people and
other aggrieved provinces for the water thefts of last 150 years.

Language & Culture:

3.      Sindhi, Balochi, Pashto, Punjabi and Seraiki be given the status of
the national languages, be given due financial support for promotion and be
used in all governmental and judicial correspondence and proceedings. The
Provincial Presses and media be considered as National Press and these
languages should be given their due share and status in all public and
private sector TV and Radio channels.

Right to Rule & Employment:

4.      Sindhis, Balochs, Pakhtoons, Punjabis and Seraikis had joined the
Federation voluntarily without compromising their rights on their resources.
They are the inheritors of their homelands, and it is their inalienable
right to remain a stable majority in their homeland, and to rule over their
homeland, forever. The formation of bogus governments through declarations
of martial laws and manipulated elections and by imposition of terrorist
clique regimes be stopped. All illegal and massive migration in Sindh shall
be reversed, which effectively constitutes ethnocide of indigenous Sindhi
people. To fill the gap between un-proportional representations in
government and private sectors Sindhis and Balochs should be given due share
in federal and provincial ministries, secretariats, judiciary, armed forces,
diplomatic and corporate sectors and 80% of all provincial public and
private sector services / jobs and national and international investments be
reserved and used for indigenous Sindhi, Baloch, Pashtoon, Punjabi and
Seraiki people within their homelands.

Accountability, Laws & Compensation:

5.      Arbitrary arrests, extra judicial killings, group and gang violence
against women, children and religious minorities hounds the country since a
very long time. Discriminatory laws and policies against civil liberties,
women, minorities, peasants  and laborers be immediately  repealed. Illegal,
inhuman and unconstitutional operations against Balochs and Sindhis be
stopped and all prisoners of conscious be released including those who are
incarcerated under false pretexts of criminal charges. The violators of
relevant constitutions be punished according to law and the criminals
involved in massacres and genocide of East Pakistan / Bangladesh and
Balochistan be punished. The case withdrawn against terrorists be restored
and they should be punished through due course of law. A compensation of Rs.
2000 billions be paid by the Federal Government to the Sindhi people for all
atrocities and injustices done to them. Indigenous Sindhi victims of
terrorism be restored to their ancestral properties in Hyderabad and
Karachi. An independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission be formed to
investigate and compensate the injustices, crimes and genocide by the ruling
forces and their terrorist agents since 1947, including exposing murderers
of Shaheeds: Zulifiqar Ali Bhutto, Fazil Rahoo, Nazeer Abbasi, Razak Soomro,
Malik Khushk, Ashiq Junejo, Ehsan Memon, Murtaza Bhutto, Ashok Kumar, Ayaz
Samon, Lala Asad, Yousif Jakhrani, Zakria Memon, Samiullah Kalhoro, Abdullah
Murad  Baloch and thousands of MRD martyrs and innocent victims of 1st
October 1988, of Shahbander, Thoree Phatak, Chandia Goth, Tayab Thaheem,
Birhmani Goth, Moro, Mehar, Dadu, Noshehroferoz, Lakhat, Tando Bahawal,
Khesana Moree etc.
(5 point Declaration of Sindh Qomi Conference Organized by Awami Tahreek on
March 5, 2006)

http://indus-asia-online.blogspot.com

"There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest". -- Elie Wiesel

anarejo@yahoo.com <anarejo@yahoo.com>

Sarki: Another Life in Danger in Pakistan

By: Aziz Narejo, USA 

In a country where the power virtually flows from the barrel of a gun, where the military dictatorship is in vogue, the accountability is an unknown commodity and the judiciary is the weakest link, it is so easy for the security agencies to 'kill' or 'terminate' any one. Just declare him or her an Indian agent, terrorist or a dacoit and shoot him in daylight. No one will even point a finger at 'you'. Some would even applaud. That's how the things are in 'beloved' Pakistan.

It is even easier to do so in Sindh and Balochistan – the two provinces subjugated to the worst colonial rule since 1947. One reads in papers so frequently of arrests, torture and disappearance of many activists in the two provinces. 'They' recently killed Samiullah Kalhoro while he was imprisoned. When I was in Sindh recently on account of holding a Convention of our organization, several people met me and told me of their family members that have been arrested by police or secret agencies and they don't know of their whereabouts. "Please do something for him", would be their plea. Unknown fear and apprehension writ large on their face.

Similar outrageous action was carried out in Tando Bahawal where 9 farmers were kidnapped by military personnel under the command of Major Arshad and later killed. They were declared dacoits and RAW agents. When the truth came out through heroic efforts of Mai Jindo, an elder in the family and the media men, the government had to retract, apologize and concede that they were innocent people and that the major and his accomplices had killed them to help his (Major's) feudal friends to grab the poor men's land.

Even after that 'confession' the log-jammed wheels of justice didn't turn. Two of Mai Jindo's daughters had to self-immolate – kill themselves in Hyderabad – to get partial justice. When I visited Mai Jindo to present to her SANA Award (and a little financial help) for her bravery and steadfastness, she wept and cried and recounted the story of the sufferings of her kith and kin and said she would burn her self to death too as no justice was being done to her even after the lapse of so many years.

I'll write on Mai Jindo's peril some other time and would appeal the world conscience to pay attention to her ordeal and help her get justice. I am writing these lines today to draw your attention to the case of a political activist who has been arrested by security agencies in Karachi. It is the case of Dr Safdar Sarki. Plain-clothes security personnel arrested him from his relative's flat in Karachi last week. Eyewitnesses have said that Dr Sarki was severely beaten while being arrested. He was taken away blind-folded to an unknown location.

Dr Sarki's brother and other relatives have expressed serious apprehensions that his life is in real danger. The police and the agencies have not disclosed his whereabouts. I appeal to the human rights activists, media men, political activists and all the readers to please act in this case and force the government to immediately release the gentleman. If there is any charge sheet against him, it should be brought into an open court and he must be given full rights to defend himself.

If we didn't act in time, another life may be lost and we may never be able to forgive ourselves.

"All that is essential for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing". -- Edmund Burke

Military Operation in Balochistan: Case of a Country Invading its Own People
Baloch are facing yet another military operation that has killed and injured many and displaced and dispossessed thousands others. The situation is worsening by the day and one doesn't see any move to end the crisis peacefully and amicably.
The situation can very well be described as a classic case of a country's invasion of its own people. Though it is nothing new for the Baloch people as they have witnessed many such invasions in the past. Sindhis can feel their pain and sufferings as they also faced an inhuman and brutal military action in 1983 when military forces with full gear were used against unarmed citizens in Sindh that were calling for nothing else but a return to democracy in the country. Hundreds of villages and towns were attacked and bombed and thousands of the people were killed, injured and incarcerated.
It can be safely said that while the state of Pakistan has utterly failed in finding raison dâêtre for her existence, the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan are being mercilessly and criminally ruled as colonies of an unholy Establishment. As the colonization process seems to be complete in Sindh, efforts are afoot to achieve the same in Balochistan.
Why military operation in Balochistan?
Sindh and Balochistan are the two most important provinces of Pakistan - strategically as well as resources wise. Balochistan has the 43% of the land mass of Pakistan with a great potential of natural resources that include gas, oil, coal, copper, gold and other minerals besides having a large coastline. Sindh, on the other hand, virtually feeds the present-day Pakistan - and unfortunately its army which happens to be its occupation force.
There is no denying the fact that Sindh provides 70% of the funds that finance the whole country - its administration and the Establishment - while it gets not more than 8-14% back - depending on what calculations we use. It has the largest coal reservoirs in the area and vast reservoirs of oil, gas, minerals, other natural resources, sea ports, large coastline and a strategic location. From the very first day of the creation of Pakistan, it has been the intention of the Establishment to control the province using any and all means. At this juncture, the establishment feels that it has finally enforced a system in the province with the help of its agencies assuring that "no leaf can move without its permission".
No such assurance is in sight in Balochistan. Not yet, at least. The government wants to reach there. It wants to dismantle the last bastions of the resistance. Hence the latest military operation. Based on my recent talks with Sindhi leaders, intellectuals, common men and women in Sindh and in North America, I can assure my Baloch brethren that Sindhis unequivocally condemn the military operation in Balochistan and stand with them in solidarity at this critical hour of their struggle. We were with them (and with the people of East Bengal) yesterday and are with them today. I hereby renew my appeal to all the people of Sindh and Balochistan and all of Pakistan and South Asia - and all the other peace loving and pro-democracy people of the world - to write to the congressmen, the parliamentarians, government officials, human rights organizations - and take part in - and organize rallies and protests - to call the attention of the world to the atrocities of the illegal, undemocratic and unrepresentative government in Pakistan.
We all have to work hand-in-hand for better future - and for the emancipation of our people. My friends don't blink. Keep moving forward!
Aziz Narejo, President, SANA
(Sindhi Association of North Ammerica)

Live discussion on Voice of America- SANA President Opposes Dams, Calls for Even-handed Policy Based on Justice, Fair play

SANA president has strongly opposed the construction of any dams on the Indus River System and called for an end to the policy of promoting and safeguarding the interests of one province at the cost of other provinces in Pakistan. He has urged the rulers to follow an even-handed policy based on justice and fair play.
Participating in a live Voice of America discussion program on the water issue earlier this week, he called upon the government to withdraw its unjust and unconstitutional decision on the construction of several mega dams on Indus River.
Answering a question he said there were several alternates that should be considered instead of going ahead with the controversial dams that will create disharmony and would divide the country.
Explaining his point, SANA president Mr. Aziz Narejo said, irrigation and power generation were the two main purposes for the construction of dams. To meet the irrigation needs, he said, the government should try to minimize the water losses. Currently, he said, a huge quantity of water up to 55 MAF - was wasted annually (due to the seepage, outdated canal system, lack of land leveling, faulty irrigation system, inappropriate crop pattern and several other things). If these problems were fully addressed, the country may save more water than the combined capacity of the disputed five dams.
He also called upon the government to check the population explosion and the illegal immigration into the country. He demanded that all illegal aliens should be deported.
To produce energy, he said, the run of the river power generation like the Ghazi Bharhotha project and the huge quantities of Thar coal may be considered.
He said that only a democratically elected government should take up the issue. The present unrepresentative government doesn't have a mandate and its decisions on water issue would create serious problems for the country.
Mr. Narejo also refuted the claims made by the self-appointed president and WAPDA officials that dams don't consume water, they store water. He said that a large quantity of water is wasted in dams due to seepage, evaporation, percolation and other things. He said the official figures show that Indus River System has lost 9.3 MAF due to the construction of the Tarbela Dam. Mangla Dam has caused a loss of around 3 MAF. He said that the new dams would cause a substantial loss and a country already facing water shortage cannot afford it.
He also mentioned that there was not enough water to build any new dams. If any dams are built they will divert water from Sindh to irrigate lands in the Punjab. The coastal areas in Sindh have already suffered immensely and with new dams the economy of Sindh, the environment and the ecosystem will be ruined and all of Sindh will face the fate of the coastal areas.
Other participants in the VOA discussion were the federal minister Amir Muqam, ex-WAPDA chief Shamsul Mulk, Ismail Khan of Northern Areas and Humera Rehman from Canada.

Water issue has become one of the core issues in Pakistan today. The way it is handled would reflect the wisdom that we may or may not have acquired during the 57 years of our tumultuous history.
Looking at the available choices, one could say that if the Constitution has any relevance and respect in the country, Council of Common Interests (Articles153-155) should be convened immediately and it should be allowed to tackle the issue. Regarding the Kalabagh Dam: if the popular will and the opinion of experts across the board have any say, the plan to build Kala Bagh Dam should be shelved permanently as it is opposed by three out of the four provincial assemblies, millions of people have spoken against it through numerous marches and rallies and several experts belonging to various provinces and even the Indus River System Authority, IRSA, (1996) have rejected the plan. If the government still goes ahead and decides to build the most controversial mega dam in the history of Pakistan, it would only bring the point home that the will of the people of the NWFP and Sindh have no say in the decision-making in Pakistan.
Whoever is to make the final decision should think hard, as it will truly have far reaching consequences for the country.
Aziz Narejo, President, SANA

 
  December 7, 2005
   

38th PPP founding day celebrations observed in NewYork & San Francisco, USA

Pakistan Peoples' Party CALIFORNIA, San francisco  chapter celebrated their the 38th anniversary on december 3rd 2005. The event was celebrated at a very grand scale. After the speeches, dinner was served to the entire audience courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. K B Bhutto. People enjoyed the tasty cousine prepared by the chefs and Paprika restaurant of Antioch.Dinner was followed by musical program. Reknowned bay area musicians entertained the audience late into the night. They sang for ppp long life and special request from the audience. The audience enjoyed the music and danced to the ppp beat. All in all it was a funfilled, colorful, family affair. Everybody enjoyed. This was without a doubt the best ppp anniversary party in the nation. And it was all courtsey of or beloved Mr. Khuda Bux Bhutto and Mrs. Najma Bhutto. May god give both of them more energy and resourses that they can arrange more family oriented programs as such.

 Our heart felt gratitude to Mr. And Mrs. Khuda Bux Bhutto 

 SPEAKER'S. K B BHUTTO.NAJMA BHUTTO, ZAHID SAIF ,M ASHRAF , ALI ASGHAR, SULTAN BHUTTO ,KHALIL AHMED , CH ,MOHAMMAD SOHAIL ,MALIK HUSSAIN

New York, USA, On Wednesday, November 30, 2005, in Ambassador Restaurant, Jackson Heights, Queens, NY, PPP, USA played a glowing tribute to one of the greatest leaders in the world, founding chairman of PPP, and the first directly elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, a hero of the people, not only in Pakistan, but across the Muslim world and the third world countries, Shaheed-e-Jamhuriat, Quaid-e-Awam, Janab Zulfkar Ali Bhutto, on the 38th Founding Day of Pakistan Peoples Party.
The speakers commented on the services of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for the country and how he brought politics from the drawing room to the streets. He made the political party to fight dictatorship and his party is still fighting dictatorship under the leadership of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, one of the greatest leaders in the present time. Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto empowered the poor (gave siasi shaoor to the people). He gave the country the unanimous constitution of 1973 and a self-sustaining nuclear program. He gave the country strength in education and industry. His outstanding leadership still awes people today. He wanted people to be free of poverty and he wanted people to have self-respect and to live with dignity. He was a man of principles. He gave his life for the people of Pakistan and his beloved country, but did now bow his head down in front of Samraj and enemies of Pakistan and the Muslim world. He stood for his principles.
 The public meeting was attended by many people including office bearers of PPP, USA and many activists and party sympathizers living in USA. Also, a large amount of office bearers and workers of PML, USA (N) attended the meeting. It was presided by Dr. M. Hassan, President, PPP, USA. The program started with the Talwat-e-Quran-e-Pak by Asif Sayed, followed by the Naat-e-Rasul by Ghulam Abbas. The stage secretary was Ijaz Bhatti, General Secretary, PPP, Tri-state chapter. The speakers were Dr. M. Hassan, President, PPP, USA; Chaudhry Ijaz Farrukh, Senior Vice President/Information Secretary, PPP, USA; Shoukat Bhutta, President, PPP, Tristate area chapter; Malik Mushtaq Ahmad, Acting-SVP, PPP, NY chapter; Chaudhry Mudassar, Finance Secretary, PPP, USA; Haji Jamil Ahmad, Ex-President, PML (N), USA; Asghar Chaudhry, Community leader; Arif Niazi, PRO, PPP, USA; Malik Saqlain, Community leader; Amir Sheikh, Coordinator of this program; Chaudhry Fazal Karim, Community leader; Rana Sayed, General Secretary, PML (N), USA; Dr. M. Shafique, President, Freedom Forum, USA; Shahid Comrade, General Secretary, Freedom Forum, USA; Yusuf Khan; Waqil Ansari, Community leader; Bashir Qamar, Community leader and President of TV program, Pakistan Zindabad; Waheed Jadoon.
?????? Several resolutions were passed in the meeting demanding an end to political vendetta against Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and other political leaders, the restoration of democracy, the immediate release of political leaders, the guarantee of safety on the return of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, new elections under the Human Rights Committee's supervision, the resignation of General Musharraf, and the return of military to their barracks.
The office bearers and workers of PPP, USA showed full confidence in Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's leadership.
Chaudhry Ijaz N. Farrukh
Senior Vice President/Information Secretary, PPP, USA

Sindh Sagar Sath

27^th November 2005

Taunsa Barrage, Dera Ghazi Khan district

Jointly organized by Hirrak Development Centre and Sindhu Bachao Tarla in collaboration with ActionAid-Pakistan

DECLARATION

Today we the people of Indus valley have gathered at Sindh Sagar Sath on the bank of our beloved Indus River at Taunsa Barrage, district Dera Ghazi Khan. Except for some other serene and picturesque spot on the bank of Indus, no other place could ever be more suitable venue for us to share our joys and sorrows, delights and pains, thrills and melancholies, ecstasies and wailings. No other people than the Mors, Mohanas, Gharoos, or Kihals?the Adivasis (indigenous communities) of the Indus valley, who have been holding the prosperity of the past to their hearts and are increasingly burdened under the pains of the present?could be better host of the event.

It was the Indus, who for centuries, like a caring mother, tenderly nursed all the creatures living on its banks as well as in its belly. It provided a kind livelihood to Mors (fisher-folk) and Mohanas (ferrymen) sailing in its waters. It generously took care of their living. The compassionate Indus never let its Kihals and Gharoos (artisans) run short of twigs and other forest resources needed by them for weaving baskets and mats or making boats and other crafts. Its pastures never dried for the animals herded by its Chhairoos, Mahiwaals and Aajris (grazers). The silt brought about by its sweet water added to the fertility of rich land on its banks. The god-river enabled its farmers to grow uncountable riches of food grain to be shared by all?both the farming and non-farming communities.

And the godly benevolence of the Indus was not confined only to human beings. Rather it was extended to innumerable plant, birds and animal species. The waters of Indus and countless Dhands (lakes) on its banks provided the best habitat to diverse species of fish and other aquatic life to grow and flourish. Providing favorable conditions for breeding and reproduction, these water bodies along with the thick forests also attracted a huge population of migratory birds every year. That peace and prosperity lasted as long as the man was in harmonious relationship with his surroundings, comprising river and other living and non-living beings. The harmonious relationship between the man and nature was marked feature of the Indus civilization that is considered one of the earliest civilizations of the world.

Then approached the ?era of development?. There came foreign colonialists, international financial institutions (IFIs), state machinery, instrumental scientific knowledge system and technology to reverse that harmonious relationship between the man and nature. They turned the waters and other common resources of the Indus River into exchangeable commodity. In the sacred name of development, both IFIs and the state along with private sector built big dams, barrages, reservoirs and mega irrigation structures. All such developments took away the control of river, forests, land and other resources from people?s hands in the interests of the IFIs, the state machinery and powerful sections of the society. Moreover, the growth-focused approach of development propelled by the IFIs and state caused our social, economic and political subjugation and serious depletion of our natural resources.

Today at Sindh Sagar Sath, we-the people of the Indus valley -deliberated on how the large dams, barrages, reservoirs and mega irrigation and drainage structures impacted us. We discussed how the IFIs and the governments kept the people in dark in building large dams and canals and how in the name of development they inflicted wretchedness on the people. Greater national interest has invariably been used by the state to deprive people of their homes, lands, livelihoods and their cultures. The short-term growth ultimately caused depletion and degradation of our water and other natural resources and brought impoverishment of the weaker sections of the society like women, fisher-folk, artisans, pastoral nomads, small farmers and landless workers in agriculture labor.

While thrashing out miseries and sufferings inflicted on us by dams and canals, we discussed how the arrogant engineering solutions of development and management of water resources ignored our indigenous knowledge, dishonored our local cultures and looked down upon our immediate realities. Intrinsically growth-focused, modern irrigation system has created an ever-increasing demand for water. On one hand this ?more water for more progress? formula of development has created serious water shortages while on other it has caused water-logging and salinity, thereby poisoning our soils, underground water and other resources.

We did not count only on the losses of large dams, barrages, reservoirs and mega irrigation and drainage structures. Instead we enumerated their so called benefits and beneficiaries as well. They provide best opportunity to international financial institutions to lend money and siphon large interests. The energy generated by dams not only helps to displace physical labor but also contribute in mechanizing production system in the fashion of vicious circle. The increased growth realized through large investment in dams and canals enable international and domestic agro-chemical corporations to accumulate large profits. Rich landowners become the richest class and small family farmers start to diminish as social category.

Unlike the cost-benefit analysis made by the so-called experts and policy-makers, our concern is the unjust and inequitable distribution of these benefits and losses. Who reaped the benefits of the dams and canals and who bear the brunt of the problems created by them are more important for us than merely comparing their aggregate benefits and losses. The dams and canals conferred more power and wealth to the already rich and powerful and exacerbated the economic vulnerabilities and political marginalization of the poor and weak.

As far as resolving the dams- and canals-induced problems is concerned, the IFIs and the governments have had a flawed approach. They treated the issues like sea-intrusion, degradation of Indus delta, water-logging, salinity, deforestation, water shortages and ever-decreasing population of fish, birds, animals and plant species as isolated environmental problems. They devised separate remedial measures and made separate interventions to resolve each problem individually. Such kind of solutions have not only failed time and again and added to the miseries and sufferings of the people but enabled the IFIs and the state to make further investments and thus turn the remedy into profitable business.  

We oppose any development that enables the IFIs and the state machinery to expand their control over the people and their resources, that displaces people from their homes and livelihoods and reduces their access to their water, land and forests, that treats mother nature as something separate from man, and that takes care of the interests of only a privileged minority. Therefore, we believe we can not make any progress or development as long as we do not have control over our lives and resources.

Through the platform of Sindh Sagar Sath, we resolve to strengthen our associations and continue our struggles against the unjust treatment meted out to weaker sections of the society like women, fisher-folk, artisans, pastoral nomads, small farmers and landless farm laborers.  We pledge our support to each other in our local struggles against different social and environmental injustices. This is our common belief that nothing but our peaceful and non-violent struggles can help us in regaining our lost control over our lives and resources and liberate us from ever-tightening clutches of the IFIs and the state.

RESOLUTIONS

The following project- and issue-specific resolutions were unanimously passed by the Sindh Sagar Sath.

Taunsa Barrage Rehabilitation and Modernization Project

The Sath condemns the involuntary displacement of Adivasi (indigenous) communities living near the Barrage and asks the World Bank and the government of Pakistan to prepare and implement the comprehensive resettlement and compensation with the prior informed consent of violated communities. Moreover, the Sath demands that Adivasi communities should have the central role in the management of Taunsa Barrage Wildlife Sanctuary and agricultural cultivation should not be allowed in the active river bed.

Kachhi Canal Project

Sindh Sagar Sath asks the government to undertake comprehensive alternative option assessment and obtain the prior informed consent of the violated communities both in Seraiki Wasaib and Balochistan.

Chashma Right Bank Irrigation Project

The violated communities resolve to continue their nonviolent and peaceful civil disobedience against the imposition of irrigation tax until and unless the Asian Development Bank and the government don?t become ready to compensate all losses and damages to life and livelihoods of local people.

Indus Delta

The government should compensate all losses occurring to local communities due to the sea intrusion and immediately implement the provisions of National Water Accord concerning with water releases downstream of Kotri Barrage

Fishing Rights and Contract System

Sindh Sagar Sath demands the immediate abolition of contract system and formal acknowledgement of historical fishing rights of Adivasi and fishing communities.

Greater Thal Canal/Muzaffargarah Canal 

Sindh Sagar Sath demands to stop and permanently abandon the construction of Greater Thal Canal. Moreover, the government should conduct the study on various options of controlling water system losses in the command area of Muzaffargarah Canal. 

Endorsed By

Peoples Movements

1: Sindhu Bachao Tarla

2. Pakistan Fisher folk Forum

3. Chashma Lok Sath

4. Thal Bachao Tarla

5. Damaan Bachao Tarla

6. People?s Rights Movement

7. Seraiki Lok Saanjh

Civil Society Organizations

1. Hirrak Development Centre

2. Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum

3. Rural Development Policy Institute

4. Parah Foundation

5. Damaan Development Organization

6. PEACE, Bolan (Baluchistan)

7. ActionAid-Pakistan