London, September 2nd, 1999

The 11^th Annual General Meeting of World Sindhi Congress (WSC) and International Conference on ‘Sindhis’ Right of self-determination, Human Rights, and the Rise of Fundamentalism in Pakistan," was held at Conway Hall, London on the 29^th of August 1999.

Dr. Rubina Shaikh, Vice Chairperson WSC, conducted this meeting. First session of the conference contained Annual General Meeting and an oath ceremony of newly elected body of World Sindhi Congress. Mr. G. Raisainganey received the oath of allegiance from the new elected body of World Sindhi Congress at the Annual General Meeting. Dr Hidayat Bhutto, Information Secretary, welcomed guests and thanked Mr. G Raisainghaney for his support and contribution for electing the new body of World Sindhi Congress.

Dr. Haleem Bhatti, Secretary General, presented annual report of World Sindhi Congress activities for the period of 1998-99. He said that religious history of Sindh reflects the will of Sindhi people to remain a nation based of the common language and cultural. Genuine love for fellow beings, non-violence, tolerance, hospitality and right of nation self-determination constitute the very sprit of Sindhi culture.

Guest speakers for first session included Ms Maggie Bowden, General Secretary Liberation, UK. She conveyed apologies of Hon. Jeremy Corbyn, M. P., Vice Chairman of the UK Parliamentary Human Rights Group and President of Liberation, for not being able to attend the conference as he had to visit East Timor to monitor the on-going referendum. Ms. Maggie Bowden said that Mr. Corbyn has promised to table a motion in the next session of UK Parliament regarding human rights situation and the governor’s rule in Sindh.

In his speech, Mr. Ali Mohammed Quershi, Central Committee member of the Conservative Party, Redbridge, UK emphasized that Sindhis are denied jobs in the central government, foreign services and other official institutions in Sindh and Pakistan.

Mr. Debabrata Chowdary, presidium member of Bangladesh, Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian Unity Council, UK, presented facts and figures of minority discrimination in employment and other aspects of life in Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Mr. N. I. Bose, Director of Khidmat, congratulated the newly elected body of WSC and assured his support. He condemned the Pakistan’s possession of nuclear weapons.

Mr. K. S. Dougal of India Forum criticized human rights situation in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh. He demanded that the Government of Pakistan give all basic rights to Sindhis.

The second session was chaired by Ms. Claire Galez, Director of the Center for South Asian Studies, Geneva. Ms. Galez discussed the current theories of nationalism and its role in safeguarding human rights in developing countries, particularly in relation to Sindh.

Professor I. S. Gupta, journalist from Delhi, expressed his views on minority rights in Pakistan and condemned the Pakistani Government for its undemocratic the governor’s rule in Sindh.

Mr. Gaekwar, "Maharja" of Baroda, congratulated WSC and emphasized that the right of self-determination is the basic right of any nation and Sindhis should exercise this right. He also said that Sindhis have always formed an independent nation and this right is their natural right, which should not be denied by the Government of Pakistan.

In his talk, Mr. Naim Ullah, Director of the Third World Environment and Technology Club, London, identified the problem of feudal supremacy in Sindh.

Mr. Khadim Soomro, a Sindhi writer and one of the biographers of Saeen G. M. Syed, identified the importance of religious freedom and international community’s involvement in resolving situation in Sindh.

Mr. Uppender Dougal, a socialist from India, condemned the undemocratic imposition of the governor’s rule in Sindh.

Ms. Claire Galez concluded the second session by discussing the human rights issues from a wider perspective of South Asia.

The third session started with the speech of Mr. Sohail Memon, an advocate and the spokesperson of Hyder Manzil. Mr. Memon conveyed apologies of Saeen Imdad Mohammed Shah, who could not attend the conference due to his ill health, and sent his best wishes and congratulations for the newly elected body of WSC. Advocate Memon’s presentation highlighted historical facts that support Sindh’s nationhood. In addition, he identified problems of Sindhi youths in the current political environment.

Mr. Umed Ali Laghari, Senior Vice-Chairperson of WSC, presented a brief summary of WSC’s financial situations. He expressed his concerns that the World Sindhi Congress is facing financial difficulties.

Mr. Omar Memon, Finance Secretary of WSC, presented its official finance report for the year 1998-1999. He stated that WSC is in deficit and requested all members and well-wishers for assistance.

Mr. G. Raisanghaney emphasized that Sindhis are peace loving and nonviolent people. He expressed complemented WSC for offering a platform where Sindhis can voice their concerns internationally.

Human rights activists and prominent Sindhis from Europe, North America, India, Sindh and other parts of Pakistan attended the conference. They include Dr. Anwar Baloach, President, Sindhi Doctors’ Association along with its delegates, Mr. Thomas Ward, a human rights activist from USA, and Mr. Emanuel DeCrites, an archeologist and human rights activist from Brussels.

Finally, Dr. Safdar Sarki, Chairperson of WSC, thanked all the members of WSC’s Executive and Central Committees for their support, trust and hard work for the organization and Sindh. He said that the right of self-determination is the basic right of Sindhis and that Sindh as an independent state is a realizable future—a future that symbolizes peace, prosperity and value for human rights. Dr. Sarki condemned the "blasphemy law" and honor killing in Pakistan. He also condemned the rise of fundamentalism in Pakistan and Pakistan’s sponsoring fundamentalism in Afghanistan, Dagistan and other parts of the world. He appealed to the international communities, especially UK and USA, for their initiative in stopping fundamentalism in Pakistan.

In addition to sociopolitical discussions, people who attended the conference enjoyed Sindhi folk music by the famous singer Mr. Aslam Tunio.

At the end of the conference, the following resolutions were passed:

1. This conference demands that Sindh and other provinces of Pakistan be given the right of self-determination. Their sovereignty is historically justified and was promised in the Pakistan Resolution of 1940.
2. The conference upholds the inherent an inalienable right of self-determination for the Sindhi people as per the UN Charter and International Convent. By virtue of this right, Sindhis should be allowed to freely determine their political status and pursue their economic, social and cultural developments. Sindhis should also be allowed to fully possess their land’s natural wealth and resources. In no case may Sindhis be deprived of their own means of subsistence, as the Government is held responsible for an adequate standard of living for all citizens.
3. This conference demands that the federal government stop its political hegemony over Sindh. The repeated suspension of elected assemblies and the imposition of Governor and Advisor are unconstitutional. The elected Sindh Assembly must be restored.
4. The conference also demands that systematic denials of language, culture and tradition of Sindhi people be stopped.
5. The conference also demands that the establishment stop its efforts to change the demography of Sindh through the manipulation of population census figures as well as through systematic settlement of migrants from other provinces and countries. The "repatriation of Biharis" to Sindh must be stopped, and all illegal immigrants should return to their countries of origin.
6. The sovereignty of Sindh must be recognized morally, politically and constitutionally. All minority ethnic groups living in Sindh are invited to join the majority struggle for sovereignty so that we all can enjoy full rights and benefits collectively.
7. This conference demands that state functionaries of Pakistan launch rehabilitation plans for victims of the cyclone, providing shelter to the shelterless, boats to fishermen who lost their boats, and agricultural inputs to farmers.
8. This conference demands that all governmental policies curbing civil liberties and violating basic human rights be abolished. Especially, the suppression of Sindhi movements should be stopped, and Sindhi political leaders should be released, including Bashir Khan Quershi, Chairman of Jeay Sindh Quomi Mahaz.
9. The conference demands the cancellation of all policies and laws that diminish sociopolitical status of religious minorities and sects. The conference expressed serious concerns over the rise of religious fundamentalism, dogmatism and intolerance. The so-called blasphemy law should be immediately abolished.
10. The conference demands that Pakistan end its engagement in the regional war and suggests that it adopt peaceful strategies. This conference condemns the proliferation of nuclear arms in the South Asian region, Pakistan’s support of fundamentalists in Afghanistan and the Government’s allocation of more funds to defense.
11. The conference demands that the Government of Pakistan take all appropriate measures to eliminate discriminations against women. The women must be granted equal rights—particularly the right to work and the right for health and safety in working environments. The Government should ensure an increased employment of women from rural areas.
12. The conference demands that the government take actions to ensure opportunities for women to participate in decision-making at all levels—particularly decisions regarding sustainable resource management and sustainable development. The government should facilitate women’s access to information and education—including science, technology and economics—so that they can enhance their knowledge and abilities to participate in decision-making. In addition, the government must adopt some policies to reduce risks for women suffering from abuse at home and harassment at workplaces.
13. The conference expresses an extreme concern about the authority’s negligence for protecting cultural heritage of Sindh. It is necessary to adopt some measures to save Moen-jo-Darro, Kahoo jo Darro, Bhambhor, Aamri, Rani kot, Kot Diji, Kalan Kot, Makli, Paqo Qilo, Grave of Hoshoo Shaheed, Tomb of Ghulam Shah Kalhoro, and so forth. All these places must be declared as official historical sites.
14. The conference demands that the government immediately provide resources to promote the Sindhi language and culture, especially by giving it an adequate representation in the mass media such as the state-controlled television and radio.
15. This conference demands that international community pay attention to the current volatile situation in Sindh and Pakistan. International community must use its influence on the Pakistani establishment to change its policies of war, laws of discrimination, and systematic exploitation of its citizens.

The conference invites all individuals and social and political groups to unite for the peace, liberty and prosperity of Sindh. People of Sindh should refrain from subscribing to any war propaganda or pan-Islamic rhetoric and instead stick to the tradition of justice, equality and peace.

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