The 12th Annual General Meeting of World Sindhi Congress (WSC) and International Conference on ‘New Millennium, New Challenges: The Future of Sindhi Nation,” was held at ‘Sindhi Center’, London on the July 22, 2000. Several prominent speakers from all over the world and large numbers of attendees of this conference made this event indeed a significant occasion. Syed Imdad Mohammed Shah (Sindh), Sardar Attaullah Mengal (Baluschistan), Dada Keerat Babani (India), Comrade Sobho Gianchandani (Sindh), Mahmood Khan Achakzai (Baluchistan), Mr. Abdul Rahim Mandokhel (Baluchistan) Hon. Jermey Corbyn, member UK Parliament, Syed Zain Shah (Sindh), Maggie Bowden (UK), Sohail Memon (Sindh), Zahid Makhdoom (Canada) were among the notable speakers to this conference.
The day began with the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of WSC members.
This session included WSC’s annual activity report read by Dr. Haleem
Bhatti (Secretary General) and financial report read by Dr. Lakhu
Lohano (Finance Secretary). The Executive Committee of WSC presented
the revised constitution of WSC, prepared under the supervision of Mr.
Giri Raisainghany -- a reputable attorney in UK and legal advisor of the
WSC. The AGM unanimously approved the constitution.
The conference was organized in two sessions. Dr. Rubina Shaikh
(Vice Chairperson) conducted the proceedings of this conference. Dr.
Hidayat Bhutto (Information Secretary), welcomed the participants.
The theme of the first session was, “Local and Global Alliances and International
Mediation for Conflict Resolution in Sindh and Pakistan.” Dr.
Saghir Shaikh (Deputy Secretary-General) was the moderator of this
session. Ms. Suriya Makhdoom, from Birmingham in her speech lamented
over the fact that the 1999 Country Assessment Report for Pakistan, issued
by UK Home Office, has not mentioned human rights violation against Sindhis.
Mr. K Dougal of India Forum, UK, said that all nationalities in
South Asia should work together to seek their rights. Ms. Maggie Bowden
of Liberation (a European based NGO), emphasized the need for the availability
of data about Sindh to the international community to encourage international
mediation about the Sindh situation. She praised the WSC’s efforts in this
regard. Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, member UK Parliament, criticized the
policies of IMF and other international agencies. He said in the name of
Globalization, their policies are damaging the developing countries. He
expressed his strong concern over the proliferation of arms in world. He
reminded that the basic human rights include the right to development,
right to democracy and the right of self-determination. He admired the
fact that WSC believes in the peaceful struggle for the right of self-determination
and unity among all the peoples of Sindh. Mr. Zahid Makhdoom of World
Sindhi Institute talked about ‘building the bridges’ among Sindhis
living in different parts of the world and creating alliances with other
political, justice and peace movements around the globe. The last speaker
of this session, Dada Keerat Babani, who is a most prominent Sindhi
intellectual in India, in his passionate speech about the long struggle
of Sindhis for the freedom and equality. He spoke about the two-decades
long struggle for defending Sindhi Language in India. He said that it was
Saeen G. M. Syed who gave this vision for liberty and freedom. He said
the real struggle will be carried out inside the Sindh. The people in Diaspora
can only help in this struggle.
Before the start of the second session of the conference, a brief ceremony was held to inaugurate four Sindhi books. Ms. Ambreen Hisbani (Cultural Secretary) was the mistress of that ceremony. The names of authors whose books were inaugurated were: Dada Keerat Babani, Syed Imdad Mohammed Shah, Mr. Raj Daswani, and Sohail Memon.
The theme of the second session of the conference was, “New Challenges to Sindhi People’s Struggle for Equality, Liberty, Unity and Peace.” Dr. Lakhu Lohana moderated this session. Mr Sohail Memon of Jeay Sindh Quomi Mahaz (JSQM), expressed that the only salvation for Sindhi lies in carrying out the struggle for free Sindh as envisioned by Saeen G. M. Syed. Mr. Zain Shah, central leader of JSQM said that he does not have much hope with Pakistan, and that is why he advocates the free Sindh. He lamented the fact that accounts of the atrocities on Sindh and Sindhis are known to international community to certain extent, however, the support lent by them is almost none. Abdul Rahim Mandokhel, Ex -Senator of Pakistan and a leader of Pakhtoonkhawa Milli Awami Party, elaborated upon the current hegemonic structure of Pakistan. He said that it is important that all Sindhi nationalist organizations in Sindh are united among themselves first. Mr. Mahmood Khan Achakzai of Pakistan’s Oppressed Nations’ Movement (PONM), said Pakistan is only acceptable to the oppressed nations if it is based on the principle of equality. This unfair structure will not last for a long. Peoples of the oppressed nations are getting frustrated with the current set-up. It is important that the western countries that have influence in Pakistan must condemn its military government and stop the patronage of Pakistan, which he called a country with a fascist set up. He said if international community is interested in doing business in Central Asia-a potential market for global businesses, then they have to recognize the significance of the peace, prosperity and political stability among the Sindh, Baluchistan and Pakhtoomkhawa peoples. It is because, Sindh and Baluchistan through its sea-ports are the only provider of inlets for the transportation of goods while Pakhtoonkhawa is an exit of such routes towards the Central Asia. He also appealed the international donors to stop the funding for the construction of the Kalabagh Dam. In the context of the challenges to Sindhis’ struggle, he said that MQM would only be accepted if they accept themselves as Sindhis and he assured that there is a lot of hope that they would join the Sindh’s struggle for the right of self-determination. Comrade Sobho Gianchandani, a veteran human rights activist and a writer said that Pakistani establishment consists of Punjabi military and elite which victimizes Sindhis, Baluhis, Pakhtoons, Seraikis as well as the common people of Punjab. He also admired the work done by Saeen G. M. Syed for the struggle for Sindhi rights.
Sardar Attaullah Mengal, central leader of PONM criticized the west’s approval of Pakistan’s autocratic rule. He said Pakistan is a failed state and one reason that it is barely existing today in its current shape is because international community still considers it as a ‘legitimate’ state, while its own people have completely rejected the status-quo and are demanding the Pakistan as it was promised in 1940’s resolution. He warned that military should go back to its barracks, otherwise the people of oppressed nations will be carry out the struggle to free themselves from this military rule. In response to Comrade Sobho’s speech he said that in his eyes a common Punjabi is indirectly involved in the exploiting setup by reaping the fruits of the Punjab’s domination and going along with the status-quo.
Finally, Syed Imdad Mohammed Shah, a central leader of PONM, in speech said that Sindhis have the message of peace and tolerance. He appealed to Sindhis living in different parts of the world to unite and come on a single platform for a joint struggle. He also pleaded to Sindhis living outside Sindhis to keep the Sindhi language and heritage alive. He considers all peoples living in Sindh as Sindhis unless, they themselves deny that identity.
In his concluding speech, Dr. Safdar Sarki, Chairperson WSC thanked all the participants of the conference. He said that we are committed to the Sindh’s struggle for freedom and liberty according to the teachings of Saeen G. M. Syed. He said that WSC, with its limited resources, is trying its best to make world aware about the Sindh as well as Baluchistan and Pakhtoonkhwa’s disadvantaged status by participating in UN and other international forums. He said that today’s conference has been very successful because of the prominent personalities from Sindh and India, Baluchistan, Pakhtoon and UK. This conference has demonstrated our solidarity. He said that WSC team has worked really hard in arranging this conference. He promised that we will work towards uniting all the Sindhi activists.
WSC presented Ajrak (a Sindhi traditional shawl) and Sindhi caps to speakers. WSC also provide thanked to Mr. Murli Mukhi of UK Sindhi Association, Dr. B. Chaudary of Human Rights International Alliance (HRIA), and Maggie Bowden for their support in arrangements of this conference.
At the end of the conference, nineteen resolutions on situations in Sindh, Pakistan and other parts of world were presented. The general body passed all the resolutions unanimously.
Among other notable participants from UK were Mr. N. I. Bose, Director
of Khidmat, Jammu-Kashmir Peace Committee, a Kurdish organization, Mahraja
of Gawekar, Prof. I. S. Gupta, Nawabzada Marri and from Sindh, Mr. Sultan
Mahar, Ali Hassan of HRCP, Ghani Bhutto, and Rafiq Abbassi.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT
1. The political power with country is needed back to elected representative
transitory mechanism, so that ways and mechanism so that ways and means
are devised and implemented in order that a new constitution is formulated
on the basis of 1940 resolution.
2. The Right of Self-determination of all nations is constitutionally
guaranteed. That is, all nations of Pakistan are to freely determine their
political status and pursue their economic, religious, social and cultural
development.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT
3. The continuous theft of water, financial and human resources from
Sindh, Baluchistan and Pakhtookhwahwa must be stopped.
4. The construction of the Kalabagh Dam must be stopped immediately.
5. The National Financial Award (NFA) scheme is abrogated and the nations
must be given economic independence in collecting their revenues and its
spending or according to their specific needs.
6. The systematic dismissal of Sindhi-speaking personnel from their
employment is immediately stopped and due process of the law is accorded
to those currently under orders for dismissals.
7. Pakistan should launch rehabilitation plans for victims of the Thar
and Baluchistan famine areas this year and the cyclone victim last year.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT
8. That Pakistani military go back to its barracks. There should be
no role of military in any political decisions or civil administration.
A moratorium must be declared on acquisition of new armaments or recruitment
of military personnel for the period of ten years.
9. Pakistan signs Comprehensive Nuclear Test ban Treaty.
10. Resources currently being expended on military are reallocated
to strengthen social, educational, and medical services to Pakistani people
particularly the ones living in the ruler hinterland.
11. Pakistan replace its engagement in the regional war and adopt peaceful
strategies.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT
12. The current Shariah laws are repealed.
13. Judicial institutions are reorganised and strengthened and rendered
independent consistent with the common law traditions and principles.
14. Honour killing should be declared as a murder under the Criminal
Code.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT
15. Appropriate resources to promote Sindhi, Baluchi, Pakhtoonkhwah,
Punjabi and Siraiki languages and culture are made available.
16. Sindhi should be given more time in media such as TV and Radio,
measures should be taken to open Sindhi medium schools in the urban areas
of Sindh.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT
17. There is an acute need for unity of amongst Sindhi-Diaspora.
WHEREAS all oppressed nations in the world have inviolable right
to self determination.
AND WHEREAS there is an acute need for solidarity between the
oppressed nations and peoples
THEREFORE this assembly condemns the oppression of women and
children.
18. This assembly further condemns continued subjugation and oppression
of the Kurdish people of northern and Shia people of southern Iraq in the
hands of the fascistic regime of Saddam Hussein.
19. This assembly further condemns subjugation of women, children and
national entities such as Uzbek, Tajik and Hazara people in the hands of
the fascistic and fundamentalist Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
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