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Resolutions Passed at the 17th International Conference on Sindh
in London, September 24th, 2005
WHEREAS the Pakistan resolution of 1940 furthered the principles of sovereign, autonomous, secular and democratic federating units, AND WHEREAS during successive regimes, the democratic and civil rights of Pakistani peoples and nations in general and those of the Sindhi, Balochi, Saraiki and Pakhtoon people in particular have remained subjugated, AND WHEREAS since its inception until now, Pakistan has suffered under the domination of civil and military bureaucracy, AND WHEREAS Pakistan has been ruled directly or indirectly by dictatorial regimes since the partition, and recently by the self-appointed president of Pakistan, AND WHEREAS the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights ensures the civil and human rights of the people, while the present military-controlled regime usurps the rights of the federating units of Pakistan in the name of devolution of power, AND WHEREAS all oppressed nations in the world have an inalienable right to self-determination, AND WHEREAS there is an acute need for solidarity between the oppressed nations and peoples, AND WHEREAS Pakistan has violated all the treaties on the distribution of Indus Water, AND WHEREAS women, Sindhi Hindus and other religious minorities are subjected to social and political discrimination, AND WHEREAS General Musharraf's government is a dictatorship, working with a racist agenda against the people of oppressed nations including Sindhis and Balouchs, Be it resolved that : 1. The right to self-determination guaranteed by the 1940 Resolution, which states that `all the nations of Pakistan are to freely determine their political status and pursue their economic, secular, social and cultural development,' should be ensured to all the nations of Pakistan. 2. The construction of the Greater Thal Canal must be stopped without any further delay, and the federal government must withdraw its authoritative stand on the Kalabagh Dam project and all other controversial projects. The unanimously-passed Sindh Assembly resolutions to this effect should be honoured and implemented. 3. The National Finance Commission (NFC) should be an independent body, and its resources should be distributed according to a new formula based on consultation with the federating units. 4. Sindh should be given authorization to make independent agreements with international finance institutions (IFIs), and the federal government must seek advice and consultation prior to making such arrangements. 5. National and multinational corporate companies operating in Sindh, especially oil and gas exploration companies, must ensure employment of Sindhi personnel from local areas. 6. The controversial construction of Gwadar Port should be stopped immediately, as the project has been initiated without consulting the elected representatives of Balouchistan and has no programme to benefit the people of Balouchistan. 7. General Pervaiz Musharraf must apologise publicly for his racist statements against Sindhis. In August, the General said that Sindhis are inefficient and incapable to be posted to higher government offices. Despite Sindhi protests, the General has still not apologised. 8. Pakistan's self-imposed `president' General Musharraf should also apologise for the comments he has made against rape victims. In an interview with the Washington Post on 13 September, he said, `This has become a moneymaking concern. A lot of people say if you want to go abroad and get a visa for Canada or citizenship and be a millionaire, get yourself raped.' The world community, including the Canadian Prime Minister, have condemned this statement. 9. General Musharraf should resign, since he has been abusing his own countrymen and women and speaks against Sindhis and women. 10. The Pakistani military must go back to barracks. The military should play no role in political decision-making or in civil governance. Defence expenses should be cut and be reallocated to the social sector with a special focus on education. 11. Pakistan should sign up for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). 12. Women and minority groups should be included in policy-making apparatuses at all levels. Equal opportunities should be promoted, incorporated and implemented at all levels. 13. Increased violence against Sindhi Hindus should be stopped. The government has failed to provide them security and justice. 14. Sindhi Hindus, who were forced to leave Sindh, should have the right to return to their motherland and visit their holy shrines, family and friends. 15. Current discriminatory laws such as the Hudood Ordinance and blasphemy laws must be repealed. Measures should be taken to end the state-patronised custom of karokari (honour killings), and legislation should be introduced to this effect. 16. Required finances should be earmarked to promote the national languages of Sindh, Balouchistan, Pakhtoonkhwah, Punjab and Siraikistan, and their culture and related institutions must be given due importance. 17. Sindhi print and electronic media houses should be state supported. Sindhi newspapers should be given an equal share of adverts. 18. The policy and practice of closing down Sindhi medium schools in Karachi should be immediately stopped, and all closed schools should be re-opened. Indeed, more Sindhi medium schools should be established in Karachi and other major Sindhi metropolises. 19. Undeclared military operations in Balouchistan should be stopped. 20. The persecution of Sindhi and Baloch nationalist political activists should be stopped immediately. Arbitrary arrests and detentions are currently the order of the day. Scores of activists are behind bars or in special torture cells. 21. MQM, a Karachi-based ethnic group and now a part of the government, must stop its discriminatory policies against indigenous Sindhis. MQM, with state support, is firmly committed to serving the narrow interests of Urdu-speaking people at the cost and peril of Sindhi people. MQM has passed laws that allow the registration of aliens as permanent citizens of the province, which adversely affects the political representation of indigenous Sindhis. MQM has divided Sindh districts on ethnic lines for gerrymandering. They have passed laws that exclude Sindhis from jobs and education opportunities in Karachi. 22. The military's continued torture and solitary confinement of Balouch political activists Dr. Allah Nazar and Mr. Abdul Nabi Bungalzai must come to an end immediately. 23. Construction of army cantonments in Balouchistan should be immediately stopped. 24. The British Petroleum Company Incorporate Pakistan, which has been denying the rights of people indigenous to the Badin district in Sindh, should comply with the demands of the People's Rights Action Committee in Badin and fulfill its role in local community development. 25. The United Nations and other international organisations should declare the overthrow of a democratically-elected government by military personnel a crime against humanity. Those indulging in such heinous crimes should be punished according to the norms of democratic governance and international law. 26. The word `minority' attached to Sindhi Hindus in Pakistan's official documents (such as the constitution) should be deleted. Hindu Sindhi are sons and daughters of the soil, just as Muslim Sindhis are. 27. Pakistan should accept the proposal of a `No War' and `No Nuclear Use First' treaty with India in the context of ongoing peace process between the two countries, so that the people of Pakistan may live in peace. |