A reply to General Musharraf about his recent highly objectionable remarks against Sindhis !
[Reproduced from sindhtoday.net, ISSN 1726-3115, Issue No: 86-88, 01 - 15 August 2005]

RAWALPINDI: [Sindh Today Report] President Islamic Republic of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf has leveled allegations against Sindhis in his meeting with editors of Sindhi language newspapers on Aug 06 at Rawalpindi in Punjab. Our reply to General's allegations, is as under:

01. General's claim: Sindhis are 'Lazy'.
Reply: This allegation is based on sinister design. Sindhis were never lazy at all. Sindhis were actively doing business for the last many centuries through out world. That is why Sindhis are today living in every country of world. In Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai and many African countries all main business is with Sindhis. Calling Sindhis as lazy reminds low mentality of some Punjabi- Mohajar gang who used to hate Sindhis for their sinister designs immediate after creation of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. In fact, General by passing objectionable remarks, has insulted Sindhis and for this General must tender unconditional apology to Sindhis.

02. General's claim:: Kalabagh dam would be constructed in any case.
Reply: This shows General has no respect for resolutions passed by three out of four provincial assemblies. This is direct insult to Sindhis, Balochs & Pakhtuns and their elected assemblies.

03. General's claim: Kalabagh dam (KBD) is in favour of Sindh.
Reply: In other words, General repeats his claim that only he and Punjab both are well-wishers of Sindh and not four crores Sindhis themselves. Very sorry about the mentality of General Saheb!

04. General's claim: I give guarantee that no canal would be constructed from KBD.
Reply: A country where Constitution is failed to give guarantee, who is General Musharraf to give the guarantee and what is the legal validation of his guarantee as his govt in Islamic Republic of Pakistan, lacks legal validation? Further, he has already imposed Greater Thal Canal (GTC) on Sindhis, to please Punjab.

05. General's claim:: If water Reservoirs not built, Sindh would make suicide.
Reply: By pleasing 'Punjabi Establishment', General wants to lead Sindh and Sindhis to suicide.

06. General's claim: Sindhis are against Army.
Reply: Sindhis were not against the Army but they were against Generals like Musharraf whose policies were anti-Sindh and Sindhis as such Generals feel proud in insulting Sindhis from time to time.

07. General's claim: Water of recent flood of Kabul River & India etc could have been deposited at Kalabagh dam (KBD).
Reply: Dams are never built on the water which is unwanted by other countries. Further, flood water can not be stored in KBD due to its design. If so-called KBD existed and was already fulfilled with water, the additional flood water would have ruined the dam.

08. General's claim: 35 MAF water is being wastage into sea.
Reply: It is mandatory to release at least 10MAF water into sea to check sea intrusion which has inundated 2.5 million acres of agriculture land in Sindh. If 35MAF water is released to sea, why sea instruction occurred on large scale in Sindh. Furthermore, so called 35MAF belongs to India and Afghanistan. No where in the world, dams are constructed on the unwanted water which is property of other countries and released occasionally.

09. General's claim: Bhutto and Benazir became Prime Ministers with the vote of Punjab.
Reply: And what about Punjabi Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Was it possible, he became Prime Minister if Sindhis did not vote them in National & Sindh Assemblies and Senate?

10. General's claim: Punjab has made sacrifices for Sindh.
Reply: Punjab had never made any sacrifices for Sindh. In fact it was 'Punjabi Establishment' who compelled majority people of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh which were 56 per cent of population) to get independence from minority (44 per cent of West Pakistan). Punjab has grabbed natural resources of Sindh. Distribution of NFC Award is big proof. Israel also claims it sacrifices for Palestinian. What are General's comment? The general role of Punjab versus three provinces has remained an oppressor.

11. General's claim: I will resolve NFC Award matter.
Reply: For the last five years General has deliberately continued the unjustified sole criteria of distribution of natural resources on the basis of population in NFC. How Sindhis should expect any good thing from him?

12. General's claim: I am a Sindhi.
Reply: General has no right to call himself as Sindhi. His policies for the last 7 years, are proved to be against Sindh and Sindhis. He has illegally, unilaterally and forcibly approved construction of Greater Thal Canal (GTC) in Punjab. If Aerial Sharon of Israel calls himself as 'Palestinian' who will accept him?

13. General's claim: Out of 5 lakhs army, Sindhis are 80,000.
Reply: How many are genuine Sindhis among them ? Most of them are in lower cadres or officers ? Will General explain ?

14. General's claim: I support greater provincial autonomy.
Reply: During dark tenure of 6/7 years of Gen. Musharraf, provinces did not get any autonomy. His such statements are merely politically motivated.