INTRODUCTION

Sindh, a land of peace and harmony, covers an area of more than 50,000 square miles, extending northwards from the Indian Ocean and straddling the Indo-Pak Border. Watered by mighty Indus River, Sindh is rich with agriculture and natural resources including oil, gas, coal, diamonds, gold and uranium. Inhabitated by approx 40 million Sindhis, descendants of the original inhabitants Dravidians and subsequent settlers, with their distinct culture language and civilisation ie. Indus Civilisation, considered to be about ten thousand years old, and still surviving in the villages and towns of Sindh.

Throughout its ten thousand years history, Sindh has largely remained independent, except for few small periods in between, until 1843 when it was conquered by the English. In 1947, when British rulers decided to leave India, instead of restoring the independent status of Sindh, as per the english traditions, Sindhis were asked to join India or Pakistan. Having no other choice ie. independence, Sindhis decided to join the newly created state of Pakistan on the basis of Pakistan Resolution of 1940, which promises "...... the constituent units shall be autonomous and sovereign."

However, these promises were never fulfilled by the subsequent governments and the military dictators, who have ruled the country for most of its life, resulting in the separation of Bangladesh and discontent among the remaining nations. This discontent is further enhanced by the lack of any system of government which ensures the basic rights to all the people and prevents exploitation by the majority province.

IMMIGRATION

Sindh with its immense richness has always attracted invaders and immigrants including Zarthushtra and his followers, Alexander and the Greeks, Persians, Mongols, Arabs, Portuguese and English. But with the creation of Pakistan, large number of muslims were encouraged to immigrate and settle in Sindh and native Sindhis were forced to leave their country. Furthermore the transfer of population continues to take place, resulting in the disproportionate imbalance of the population resulting in the increasing tension between the native Sindhis and immigrant Muhajirs. This tension between the communities is further heightened by the demand by the immigrants for a separate homeland dividing Sindh into two portions, and the use of force to achieve this objective, evidenced by the present crisis in Karachi, the capitol city of Sindh.

It is estimated that there are more than five million illegal immigrants in Sindh including Biharis, Bengalis, Burmese, Afghans, Vietnamese, Bosnians, etc. Sindhis feel threatened by the continued illegal immigration and settlement of Muhajirs in the urban towns and neo-colonisation and settlement of Punjabis in the rural areas, supported by the military dominated by punjabis. As per the government figures more than 8 million acres of land has been allocated to military personnel and other settlers in Sindh, forcing the native Sindhis to abandon their centuries old ancestral villages and homes, without due compensation or alternate arrangements.

TERRORISM
We have received the evidence of the continued involvement of some political parties in terrorism including torture and murder of innocent civilians, as also evidenced by Amnesty International, AI INDEX: ASA 33/05/93.

The most prominent among them being Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM) , who have reportedly been involved in the kidnapping, torture, rape and murder of many innocent civilians specially Sindhis. On 1st October 1988, more than 200 innocent civilians including women children and elderly people were massacred by terrorists, and the victims identified the assailants as the MQM activists to the then Chief Minister of Sindh, Mr Akhtar Kazi. The cases registered against the terrorists are still pending in the courts, but the offenders have been released for political reasons, whereas the victims are still awaiting legal relief and compensation.

Since then their have been numerous other testimonies and evidence of the continued involvement of MQM in the terrorist activities including kidnapping, torture, rape and murder of innocent civilians, political opponents and their own dissidents (Annex 2).

One of the senior and prominent journalists Mr Salahuddin, Editor of the magazine 'Takbir' was recently assassinated by the terrorists in his office. It is reported that he was an strong opponent of MQM, and had vowed to expose their activities. On 26th of January 1995, a coach full of passengers, leaving from karachi for the interior of Sindh, was put on fire by the terrorists who claimed to belong to MQM, resulting in the death of nine innocent civilians including women and children, and injury to several passengers. On 16th of June 1995, eight innocent Sindhi government employees, were shot dead by the terrorists who claimed to be the members of MQM Altaf Group. They claimed to have deliberately targeted the Sindhis, from the 300 staff members in the Sub-registrar office in Liaquatabad stronghold of MQM Altaf Group.

The continued and uncontrolled fighting for supremacy between the two groups of MQM, ie. Altaf group and Haqiqi group, has resulted in the unnecessary loss of the life of their workers and innocent civilians, and paralysed the life of Karachi.

MILITARY OPERATION

Although the infamous military operation which resulted in the blatant violation of human rights and unnecessary loss of life, was supposedly stopped and military abruptly withdrew to the barracks in the beginning of December 1994. The military has been replaced by the para-military force, working under the command of the military Generals, to achieve the objectives of the hurriedly aborted military operation 'Operation Blue Fox' . Moreover, military still continues to interfere in the civilian matters, beyond its constitutional jurisdiction.

On 30th January 1995, a centuries old Sindhi village in Hyderabad was demolished by the military personnel, inspite of the court injunction, and innocent villagers including women children and elderly people, were detained in custody by military without giving any reason, and the relatives threatened with reprisals if the issue was further raised in court of law or press.

The military personnel involved in cold blooded murder of ten innocent villagers from Tando Bahawal, who were picked from their village and shot dead in cold blood, still remain to be punished as per the decision of the court martial, more than three years after the incident. Similar operations have been reported from various other parts of Sindh, and the persons so kidnapped by the security forces either disappear never to be seen again or their dead bodies are found dumped in the canals or by the roadside.

In November 95, four undercover agents of the security forces tried to kidnap Mr Photto Khaskheli, a innocent villager from the village of Khair Mohammed Jarwar. In the struggle that followed, the car was surrounded by the villagers, hence the undercover agents opened fire with automatic weapons on the unarmed crowd, and three villagers were severely wounded, one of them later died in the hospital. Police refused to file the FIR by the villagers, but latter the Captain of the Rangers force filed an FIR against the villagers, who were wounded and in hospital of resisting the unlawful arrest and kidnapping.

In January 1996, four innocent villagers were killed by rangers in cold blood in broad day light in the village Khuram Jagram near Patan Lakhan. Inspite of immense public reaction including the resolution in the Provincial Assembly, National Assembly and Senate, no action has been taken against the culprits, and the government refuses to hold an independent judicial enquiry into the incidence.

So far the authorities have failed to restore the law and order situation inspite of the Operation Clean Up, which has resulted in the loss of life of many innocent civilians, political activists, police and military personnel.

IMPRISONMENT, TORTURE & DEATH IN CUSTODY

We have received the reports and evidence of the widespread and systematic blatant violation of human rights including Rape, Torture and Death in Custody by the security forces. This has also been reported by the UN Human Rights Commission, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Amnesty International, as highlighted by Mr Bacre Waly Ndiave, UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions E/CN.4/1994/7, E/CN.4/1995/61 and Amnesty International Reports AI INDEX: ASA 33/05/93, AI INDEX: ASA 33/01/95, AI INDEX: ISBN 0-86210-245-6.

The most notable among them being the cold blooded murder by the security forces of Shaheed Mohammed Yousuf Jakhrani, Vice Chairman of World Sindhi Congress, Mujeeb Aijaz Jatoi, Ali Hyder Shah, Khadim and Subho Indhar, Gulloo Machi, and others, are some of the example of the utter disregard by the authorities of the human rights of detainees and the disrespect for the human life.

Shaheed Mohammed Yousuf Jakhrani, Vice Chairman of World Sindhi Congress, was arrested by the security forces on 6th June 1992, and taken to the military camp near Pano Aqil, where he was tortured to death, and his body was returned to the relatives on 12th June 1992. The post-mortem of the dead body showed that acid was poured in the eyes, there were marks of electrocution, burning and physical violence.

The relatives have unsuccessfully tried to file the petition in the courts of law, and even the highest court of the law in the country have failed to provide them relief and the culprits are at large, as the security forces are granted legal immunity from prosecution for any crime committed in good faith as per the Presidential Ordinance promulgated on 19th July 1992.

Large number of political activists, students and intellectuals are in prison, some detained without trial, including Mr Bashir Qureshi, Dr Dodo Maheri, Mr Sattar Morio, Mr Bashir khaskheli, Raees Nabi Bux Rind MP., Mr Ghulam Hussain Unar, Mr Amir Bux Umrani, Dr Maqbool Khushik and others. It must be noted that Mr Bashir Qureshi has a Liver Abscess, and was forcibly removed from the hospital and tortured in prison, and he is denied the proper medical care for the life threatening condition. (N.B: Mr Ghulam Hussain Unar died on 25th January and the circumstances surrounding his death are not clear yet).

Torture and death in custody, specially of the political activists, by the police and security forces is common. It has been widely reported that individuals after being arrested and interrogated by the police and security forces are killed in cold blood showing an encounter, instead of producing them before any court of law. Among such cases include Mr Faiz Jakhro, Sahib Khan Chandio and six other Jeay Sindh activists killed recently in Karachi.

Rape and torture by the security forces and police is common in Sindh, and the victims are denied legal relief as the security forces are granted legal immunity from prosecution. Recently a senior journalist Mr Gul Mohammed Mirbahar was arrested by the police on the instigation of the local Member of Parliament, and was tortured and sexually assaulted. In his statement he has accused the Chief Minister of Sindh, and other senior officials of involvement in the crime.

Rape of the women prisoners and innocent civilians by the security forces and police is common, as reported by Amnesty International and various human rights organisations and the press. The most infamous incidents was in the constituency of the Prime Minister, where five young girls were raped by the police, while they were visiting their relatives wrongfully arrested and detained at the police station, and the government tried to cover up the case for several days.

In Janury 1995, a 16 year old girl Kuki was raped by two army soldiers in broad day light, in Hyderabad the second largest city of Sindh, and was admitted to hospital in unconscious state. So far no action has been taken against the culprits and the family is denied any legal relief.

TORTURE CELLS

Torture of the detained persons, sometimes merely on the suspicion of crime and without warrants, to obtain confession is a common practice in all the police stations. Specially created torture centres, operated by the CIA, FIA and the military, exist in all the major towns of Sindh. The centres are used to obtain confessions, through torture and intimidation, from the political activists and innocent civilians, sometimes merely on suspicion of crime.

The common methods of torture include physical beating, using instruments like 'Sachputri' and cuts with razor blades, stripping naked and tying up in the freezing cold, keeping the prisoners in dark cold damp rooms called 'Refrigerators' and denying them sleep for long periods of time, hanging upside down for periods of time without food or drinks, electric shocks, etc.

Torture cells are also operated by the terrorist organisations, and used for the torture of political opponents, usually with fatal results. Common methods of torture include drilling holes in the bones with electric drill machines, incising with razor blades, burns and electric shocks, etc.

POLITICAL PERSECUTION

The tradition of the intimidation and persecution of political opponents by the subsequent governments seems to be increasing in intensity with time. Use of emergency powers and Section 144 to suppress the freedom of speech and movement, arrest, imprison and torture the political opponents seems to be widespread and common practice. Use of the Exit Control List and refusal of some foreign missions to grant visa without the permission from the government of Pakistan, further exacerbates the problem of political persecution.

Dr Munawar Halepota, Secretary General of World Sindhi Congress and Human Rights International, while on a visit to Sindh, was arrested on 28th November 1995. He was detained incommunicado at various places including CIA Centre Hyderabad, FIA Safehouse Islamabd and death cell in Rawalpindi Jail for more than a month. During this period he was denied any medical or legal, including visits from the lawyers family or friends. After the increasing international and internal pressure for his release, he was forcibly deported on 4th January 1996. (For detailed statement see Annex 1)

Imprisonment of the members of parliament and opposition leaders and denying them the parliamentary and legal rights, is a practice which was inherited by the present government and is being repeated without any consideration of the human rights of the detainees. We have received numerous reports of the ill treatment and torture of the political prisoners by the authorities.

Recently police raided the house of Mr Ismail Rahoo, a prominent Sindhi opposition leader and former Minister Sindh Government, with the intention of arresting him without any court warrants, and in his absence harassed the family members. It is reported to have happened on the instigation of the local Member of Parliament, who is a close associate of the husband of the Prime Minister. Mr Shaikhoo Rahoo, brother of Mr Ismail Rahoo , died in Central Jail Hyderabad on 1st February 1996, as the authorities refused to provide him with necessary medical treatment. Even after death, his body was chained with Hand cuffs and leg fritters.

It is also alleged that the security forces have recruited under cover agents to eliminate Sindhi political activists, and this view is supported by the suspicious circumstances surrounding the murder of some prominent political activists. The most notable being Mr Saifur Rehman Jatoi, who was shot dead by unknown assailants and the police have failed to trace any clues.

On 28th August 1995, an attempt was made on the life of Mr Gul Mohammed Jakhrani, a prominent Sindhi nationalist leader. Unknown assailants fired upon his car, while he was going to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in Karachi. The car was damaged severely but fortunately he survived with few cuts and bruises.

Similar attack occurred on Rt Hon Syed Imdad Mohammed Shah, former Member Parliament and leader of Opposition Sindh Assembly, s/o His Excellency G M Syed, on 22nd January 1996. Again the car was severely damaged, but the passengers luckily survived with minimal injuries.

FATHER OF SINDHI NATION

His Excellency GM Syed, 92 years old Father of the Sindhi nation, passed away in Karachi, Sindh on 25th April 1995. GM Syed was put under house arrest on 19th January 1992, and his house was declared a sub-jail. During his political carrier, G M Syed was detained without trial, for more than 30 years since the creation of Pakistan, until his death and was adopted "Prisoner of Conscience" by Amnesty International and by Human Rights International.

On 11th March this year, GM Syed was admitted in Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre in a critical state, after initial refusal by the hospital administration. He was denied proper medical care, resulting in the deterioration of his condition.

Inspite of appeals from Amnesty International, Human Rights International, various NGOs, Parliamentarians and personalities throughout the world, the Government of Pakistan refused to try him in any Court of Law and provide the necessary facilities for his medical treatment abroad.

Retd. General Nasirullah Babar, Federal Interior Minister, later proudly boasted in the national assembly that " .... we will not try G M Syed in court of law, as we do not want to make a martyr of him, but we want him to die a natural death" .

Human Rights International strongly feels that the deliberate delay by the authorities of implementing the adhoc procedures for him to be transferred and treated abroad obstructed any possibility of saving his life.

CONCLUSION

World's oldest surviving civilisation is under threat of extinction from terrorism, settlement of illegal immigrants, cultural dilution and persecution by the establishment, which has resulted in the blatant violation of human rights including Rape, Torture and Death in Custody of innocent civilians and political activists.

In the absence of any constitutional protection, Sindhis feel that their social, cultural, economic, civil and political rights are being violated, and that they are being held hostages at gunpoint by one of the ruthless armies which has repeatedly massacred its own people and innocent civilians around the world. Hence, Sindhis demand the right of self determination as per international covenants.

Peace and stability in the region, which is strategically vital for the world peace, can not be ensured unless the expansionist ideas of the military are checked and violation of human rights stopped. It has been proposed to the government of Pakistan to release all political detainees and restore the historical national rights of Sindhis, including the right of self determination.

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