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Lateefi Laat in Houston Washington, D.C: As a part of a series of events aimed at facilitating maintenance of cultural memories amongst the Sindhi Diaspora in North America, the World Sindh Institute (WSI) presented a cultural evening in the bustling metropolis of Houston, Texas. The evening was attended by almost 200 Sindhi-Texans, some even traveled from the neighboring state of Louisiana. The evening was chaired by the WSI president, Zahid Makhdoom. Speaking at the occasion, Makhdoom emphasized the need for "the maintenance of cultural memories especially since justice, peace, equality, pluralism, and understanding between peoples and nations are at the core of Sindhi culture and traditions, literature and history". He expressed grievous concern at fascistic militarisation of society and economy in Pakistan and the attendant loss of the rule of law and violation of all fundamental freedoms of Pakistani people that the military dictatorship has continued to engage in with impunity. He further observed, "The success of this event demonstrates high level of cooperation and fraternity that, thankfully, exists amongst the various Sindhi Diaspora entities such as Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) and the World Sindhi Congress". He expressed gratitude to the local volunteers from SANA and WSC who made tremendous contributions towards the event, such as Mir Talat Talpur, Jamil Daudi, Noor Nisa Ghanghro, Dr. Syed Zia Shah, and Amanullah Turk. Prior to the start of what turned out to be an inspiring evening of traditional Sindhi Sufi and contemporary humanist poetry of the great Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, Sachal Sarmast, Hamal Faqeer, Shaikh Ayaz sung by a veteran singer from Sindh, Anwar Jatoi and a New Jersey based musician Sunny Diwan, the event was addressed by Munawar Laghari, Executive Director of the WSI and Jameel Daudi of SANA. Daudi welcomed the attendees and appreciated the spirit of cooperation that exists between the various Sindhi Diaspora entities. Quoting profusely from Shah Bhittai, Laghari reflected upon the message of justice and peace that is at the core of Sindhi Sufic traditions. He condemned the recent smear campaign of the Pakistani military government against Sindhi Diaspora organization such as the WSI and WSC. He said the problems in Baluchistan are "not manufactured outside of Pakistan by the Diaspora entities", as alleged by General Musharraf’s government, but are caused by the ongoing violation of human rights of Baluchi people and of all Pakistani people indeed". Laghari emphasized ‘the scourges plaguing Pakistan today are the lack of fundamental freedoms, shameful slaughter of human rights and individual liberties in the hands of the Pakistani military establishment, usurpation of rights of small provinces by Punjab, nuclearisation, and religious fanaticism." He demanded the release of hundreds of political detainees as well as scores who have simply vanished behind the smoke-screen of security - the disappeared ones, including Dr. Safdar Sarki of the JSQM and Asif Baladi of the SNF. He condemned the most recent onslaught on fundamental freedoms by Gen. Musharraf’s arbitrary and unlawful regime banning access to the WSI website. He reminded the General that "the unmitigated onslaught by Pakistani military over fundamental freedoms of Pakistani people would never prove successful in silencing the voices of dissent or subvert the quest for human rights and freedoms that the people of Pakistan in general and Baluchi and Sindhi people in particular has embarked upon." For more information, please call 202-223-1777 or email us at wsihq@worldsindhi.org. Visit www.worldsindhi.org for more information. Through nonviolent means, the World Sindhi Institute works relentlessly for universal human rights and humanitarian law for the Sindhis of Sindh, in southeastern Pakistan. |