International Conference on Sindh, “International Aid to Pakistan : Issues of Human rights, Equitable Development, and Peace in Sindh,” September 24, 2005 , London , UK.

The aid that Pakistan receives from the USA and the European Union strengthens the country’s authoritarian military government. The USA and EU are therefore legitimising laws and policies that promote religious intolerance and extremism at the peril of democracy and the rights of minority provinces. This was the consensus view at the 17th International Conference of the World Sindhi Congress (WSC), a human rights advocacy group for Sindh and Sindhis, held in London on 24 September 2005.

Several distinguished scholars and activists from Sindh, Balochistan, Geneva, India, the USA and UK gathered to present speeches on the theme of ‘International Aid to Pakistan: Issues of Human Rights, Equitable Development and Peace in Sindh.’

The Conference was very well attended by Sindhis, Balouchs and people of other nationalities from Sindh, Spain, America and of course the UK. UK attendees came not only from London, but also from cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Preston, Rochdale, Reading and many others. Attendees filled the conference hall to capacity.

The proceedings started with an introduction by Dr. Hidayat Bhutto, who also read messages and apologies from prominent American and British politicians. US Senator George Allen of Virginia sent a message of support to WSC and wrote, 'I value the work you are doing for the Sindhi people of Pakistan. It is my hope that through your efforts, Sindhis will gain the recognition that they so greatly desire.'

US Congressman Gregory Meeks of New York praised WSC in his letter and wrote, ‘I support your organization’s pursuit of democracy under your advocacy and action banner, and I also support your fight against fundamentalism and fundamentalist ideologies in your struggle for the rule of law and human rights in Pakistan.’

Roger Godsiff, an MP from the UK, also wrote and agreed that Sindhis should be heard.

Many other UK MPs and Secretaries of State sent their best wishes and apologies for being unable to attend.

The introduction was followed by the Secretary General’s report, delivered by Dr. Lakhu Lohano.  He summarised the role of WSC and its activities over the course of the past year.  He said that 2004-05 has been a very hectic year for WSC.  Apart from the AGM/Conference and Saeen G. M. Sayed’s birthday, WSC organised three demonstrations highlighting the plights of Sindh, Balouchistan, women and religious minorities.  Through leaflets and speeches, WSC focused on issues such as water access, unjustified resource distribution in Pakistan, military action in Balouchistan, Gwadar Port, Dr. Shazia Khalid, the political murder of Shaheed Samiullah Kalhoro and the plight of other Sindhi and Balouch activists in prisons.

The speeches and other business of the day were conducted in two sessions.  The first session was moderated by Dr. Haleem Bhatti, Senior Vice Chairman of WSC.  The speakers in this session were Vishu Bhatia, Ali Rind, Dr. Saghir A. Shaikh, Dr. Ahmed Hussain Makhdoom, Kadir Bux Jatoi and Ms. Claire Galez.

The session started with a well-received poem recited by a UK Sindhi.  In this poem Vishu lamented the plight of Sindh and wondered whether Sindhis were taking care of the motherland they had to leave.

Ali Ahmed Rind, editor of the Sindhi news magazine Affair, said that Sindh has no say in Pakistan at federal or provincial levels. 

WSC Chairman Dr. Shagir Shaikh delivered a detailed paper on issues of human rights and the role donor countries.  ‘In order to ensure long-lasting peace and justice in the region and to reduce the menace of terrorism, global powers must act to neutralise Pakistan and its proliferating nuclear capability,’ Dr. Shaikh said.

He concluded that it may actually be counter-productive to act as an ally to Pakistani President Musharraf in the coalition against terrorism.

In his paper entitled 'SOS' (Save Our Sindh), Sindhi intellectual Dr. Ahmed Makhdoom discussed general deprivation in Sindh and concluded that we ourselves must fight for the restoration of our rights.