World Sindhi Congress - World Sindhi Congress Raises the IDPs, Killing of Sindhi Demonstrators at the Liberation AGM

World Sindhi Congress Raises the IDPs, Killing of Sindhi Demonstrators at the Liberation AGM

Sunday, 19 July 2009

World Sindhi Congress, a leading Sindhi organisation working for the cause of human rights Of Sindh and Sindhis, has raised the IDPs, killings of Sindh political workers as well as other issues at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Liberation held in London on 4th July.

World Sindhi Congress was represented by its Chairman, Dr Haleem Bhatti and Suraiya Makhdoom, the Senior Vice- Chair.

Having consultative status with United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Liberation is an old organization, fighting for the cause of oppressed people and nations all over the world. Its Chairman is Jeremy Corbyn MP. WSC is an affiliated Organisation of Liberation and as such has a seat on its Central Council.

In the AGM of Liberation, the affiliated organisations as well as others presents their individual resolutions on specific issues, which concern them. WSC always presents a resolution on Sindh. This year’s resolution was moved by Suraiya Makhdoom.

The WSC resolution focused upon problems, such as, IDPs, killing of peaceful demonstrators, economy, plunder of natural resources, the plight of Hindus, language and culture.

The resolution stated that being rich in natural resources, such as oil, gas and coal, Sindh contributes a lot to the Centre and receives a meagre amount in return due to the unjust National Finance Commission (NFC) formula. Unemployment is high and the Sindh quotas in Federal, diplomatic and other jobs are not observed at all.

Sindhi Hindus, the indigenous people of Sindh, have always been under attack in Pakistan . In April 2008, Jagdeesh Kumar 22, A Hindu worker was tortured to death by his co-workers in a leather garment factory in Karachi on false charges of blasphemy. All the culprits were non-Sindhis, who disturb the peaceful Sindhi society.

With regards to language and culture, the Pakistani establishment has been pushing Sindhi out of the official use. Many Sindhi medium schools have been continuously closed and most of the sign boards in Sindhi, especially in the cities, have been removed. The website of the Sindh Assembly is also not provided in Sindhi language. The state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) used to broadcast just one hour programme in Sindhi and other languages, but General Musharraf closed that down too in 2007.

Regarding IDPs, the resolution stated that Pakistan’s so called operation against Talibans has created a huge problem of the IDPs. Although nearer to the war torn areas, Punjab has refused to take the IDPs. Therefore, both the government of Pakistan and the provincial government of Sindh have decided to settle them in Sindh, which is as far as about 1,400 kilometers from the homes of the IDPs. This has resulted in mass protest all over Sindh. In a demonstration of Sindh United Party police killed a party activist, Mr Akhtar Ali Shah. On 10th of June police and rangers killed 3 protesters in a demonstration of Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party in Karachi .

Finally, the resolution called upon the world powers to have a dialogue with the nations constituting Pakistan and then negotiate a solution which can help bring about peace and security in the region and the world as a whole. The full text of the resolution is attached. After a good discussion, the resolution was unanimously passed.

On the recommendation of WSC, this year there was a resolution on Balochistan as well, which focussed upon gross human rights violations in Balochistan.

The AGM elected Suraiya Makhdoom as a member of the Liberation Central Council.

Information Secretary Ali Memon

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