I feel honoured as Secretary General of the World Sindhi Congress, to present the annual report about its Aims and Objectives, Activities and Achievements, Progress and Future Programmes, and role in the future survival of Sindh & Sindhis. This august gathering is the eighth annual meeting, previous such meetings were held in London, Karachi, Hyderabad and Washington.

World Sindhi Congress was launched in 1988, when we were still suffering under the curse of martial law and institutionalised elimination of Sindhis was being carried out for their overwhelming support of the democracy. Unfortunately, nothing has changed for Sindhis, since the much trumpeted return of democracy. However, rather depressingly I notice that situation in Sindh has worsened to alarming levels, due to the emergency rule resulting in suspension of civil and political rights and continuation of the military operation which has resulted in the blatant violation of human rights. We have received reports and evidence of widespread and systematic practices of Rape, Torture and Death in Custody by security forces. These have also been reported by various human rights organisations, including the UN Commission on Human Rights, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Amnesty International, and has been highlighted by Mr Bacre Waly Ndiave, UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, in his reports 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 and Human Rights International Interim Report: HRI/03/95.

The most notable among them being the detention without trial and death in custody of His Excellency G M Syed, Chairman of World Sindhi Congress, the 92 year old father of the Sindhi nation, who was declared 'Prisoner of Conscience' by Amnesty International and Human Rights International.

His Excellency G M Syed spent more than 31 years in prison, since the creation of Pakistan in 1947, for demanding the Right of Self Determination for his people. On 11th March 1995, he was admitted to hospital in Karachi in a critical state, and was deprived of the proper medical care. 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. The Federal Interior Minister of Pakistan, Rtd. Gen. Nasirullah Babar in a statement in the National Assembly said: "... we will not try GM Syed in a Court of Law, as we do not want to make a martyr of him, but we want him to die a natural death". World Sindhi Congress believes that His Excellency G M Syed was deliberately denied the proper medical care, and holds the Pakistan Government responsible for his death.

His Excellency G M Syed shall always be remembered as a true son of soil and father for all Sindhis. He may not be with us, but his ideology and sacrifices shall forever inspire the struggle of the Sindhi people for the achievement of their rights including the right to self determination.

We are extremely grateful for all the individuals, NGOs, Governments, Parliamentarians and Press throughout the world, who appealed for the release of His Excellency G M Syed, particularly Amnesty International and Human Rights International. I am specially indebted to Rt Hon Robert Parry, MP who tabled the Early Day Motion in the House of Commons for the release and treatment abroad for His excellency GM Syed. I sincerely hope that we will continue to receive the support of all for the fulfilment of the dream of His Excellency G M Syed for Universal Peace and Peaceful Coexistence.

Large number of political activists are being detained, in various prison and tortured cells, either incommunicado or fabricated in false charges. The most notable include Mr Bashir Qureshi, Dr Dodo Maheri, Mr Sattar Morio, Mr Anis Pirzado, Mr Bashir Khaskheli, Mr Qazi Shafique, Mr Imdad Jakhro, Mr Amir Bux Umrani and others. All the above named have been tortured in custody and denied legal and medical aid, and visits from the family and friends. 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.

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.

World Sindhi Congress in cooperation with Human Rights International and other NGOs had planned a local 'Regional Peace Conference' in Karachi, on 15th - 16th December 1994. All the parties concerned including the Government and the opposition were invited to the conference to help resolve the conflict and bring peace in the region. However, on the eve of the conference, the authorities refused the permission to hold the conference, and the conference hall was surrounded by the Police and Paramilitary force, intimidating and harassing the international and local delegates from various parts of the country.

It may be relevant that two days before the conference, a meeting of the military commanders was held in Karachi, and next day we were informed by the authorities that we will not be allowed to hold the Regional Peace Conference. Retd General Nasirullah Babar, Federal Interior Minister, later proudly boasted in the national assembly that " .... we did not allow the Sindhis to hold the peace conference".

World Sindhi Congress was launched in 1988, by Sindhi intellectuals from around the world and its honorary members also include those non-Sindhis who have done extraordinary service to the cause of Sindh, including eminent Professors, Intellectuals, Journalists, Humanitarians, International personalities, etc. The main purpose of World Sindhi Congress is to:

a) Highlight the developments affecting Sindh & Sindhis, inside as well outside the country.

b) Defend the historic national rights of Sindhis, including the right of self determination. Its aims & objectives include:

1. Support and safeguard the human rights as ensured in the UN charter.

2. Strive for the emancipation of masses from all kinds of exploitations.

3. Establish a society with easy availability of basic amenities of life, including free education and proper health care.

4. Make efforts to bring Sindh at par with other developed countries in the field of agriculture, commerce, science and technology.

5. Preserve and promote the cultural heritage of Sindh, such as folklore & music, traditional arts & handicrafts, historical manuscripts & archives.

6. Promote Sindhi language & history, and special efforts to improve the literacy of masses particularly in villages.

7. Efforts to enhance the political awareness of masses by publications, seminars, lectures etc.

In 1990 communal riots erupted in the major cities of Sindh, at the behest of the establishment, innocent Sindhis were being massacred by the terrorists. Indigenous people of Sindh were forced to abandon their ancestral homes and live in the refugee camps in their own homeland, and Sindh was burning. World Sindhi Congress launched the world-wide campaign to 'SAVE SINDH' from terrorism, torture cells, rape, massacre, kidnapping, dacoities, etc. The highlight of the campaign was the International Conference held in Karachi from 5th-7th December 1990. The conference was held successfully, under very difficult circumstances including the threat of terrorist attacks.

World Sindhi Congress also launched the 'SAVE SINDH FUND' with the purpose of helping the unfortunate victims of these human created disaster and its draft aims and objectives include:

a) To provide the medical services and other assistance in the areas affected by the natural disaster or situations created due to civil riots, commotions and disturbances, inside and outside Sindh.

b) To further the education and learning of Sindhi language and to establish & support Sindhi educational institutions, and to award scholarships and grant loans for educational purpose to needy and deserving Sindhis.

c) To provide books and writing material to Sindhi children in the rural areas of Sindh, to other poor Sindhi children.

d) To procure to be written, print, publish, issue and circulate, such papers, books, periodicals, pamphlets or other documents or films or record tapes, as shall further these objects and promote Sindhi language and history.

e) To provide clean drinking water in the rural areas of Sindh, and take measures to improve the hygiene and sanitation.

f) To establish hospitals, dispensaries and residential homes, to relieve sickness & infirmity in the rural as well urban areas of Sindh.

g) To provide relief from poverty, distress and hardship amongst Sindhis in case of need.

Save Sindh Fund is in the process of being registered as charitable fund, and we appeal to you all to contribute generously towards this noble cause.

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. 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. Present prime minister and an ex-chief Minister of Sindh are on record as saying that 'More than 70000 illegal immigrants enter Sindh every month'. It is estimated that there are more than 5 million illegal immigrants in Sindh, including Afghans, Bengalis, Burmese, Phillipinos, Vietnamese, etc. The already deprived and fragile economy of Sindh cannot bear the burden of this population explosion. The illegal immigration has resulted in the increasing conflict and breakdown of law and order situation, drug trafficking and terrorism specially in Karachi, where innocent civilians both locals and foreigners, are being killed in their homes and work places.

Furthermore the continued transfer of population has resulted 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.

We have received the evidence of the continued involvement of the Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM) in the terrorist activities. MQM has 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 there have been numerous other testimonies of the continued involvement of MQM in the terrorist activities including torture, rape and murder of innocent civilians, political opponents and their own dissidents.

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 Liaquatabd stronghold of MQM Altaf Group.

Since then everyday the news-media reports the kidnapping and death through torture by the terrorists, of innocent civilians whose bodies are dumped by the roadside, tied up in sacks.

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.

We have proposed to MQM, that immigrant muhajirs and the native Sindhis will have to live and work together in peace, for the betterment of the people of Sindh. We assure the immigrant Muhajirs equal rights if they merge with the majority Sindhi population, but if they wish to maintain separate identity then they will be given the rights of ethnic minority as per the international law. However, Sindhis will never permit the partition of Sindh by violence and terrorism, and will resist such measures by all available means at any cost.

The ever increasing phenomenon of religious fundamentalism and sectarian violence has further added fuel to the fire. Recently various incidents have been reported of attacks and counter attacks on Mosques, resulting in the death of large number of civilians during the prayers and attending the religious gatherings.

So far the authorities have failed to restore the law and order situation inspite of the military operation 'Operation Clean Up' which has resulted in the loss of life of many innocent civilians, political activists, police and military personnel. The irony of the situation is that the Sindhis have to bear the expenditure of the Military Operation, which has resulted in the death of their sons and rape of their daughters.

The most notable among them being the cold blooded murder by the security forces of ten innocent villagers from Tando Bahawal, who were arrested from their village by the security forces and shot in cold blood, without even charging them with any crime or producing them before the court. Torture and death in custody 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 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.

On 17th October 1992, a 14 year old girl Lau, was allegedly raped by three police officers, when she was arrested along with seven other people on their way home from festival. All eight were released after the rape, but were threatened with reprisals if they reported the incident, AI Index: ASA 33/06/93.

In January 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.

More than 6 million acres of the fertile land of Sindh has been awarded to the Army Personnel and immigrants, evicting Sindhis from their centuries old ancestral villages, without due compensation for taking over their land and homes. New military cantonments are being constructed to colonise Sindh and protect the interest of the settlers.

Sindhis are denied their due share of irrigation water from River Indus, by construction of dams upstream, severely affecting the traditional agricultural based rural economy and causing environmental disaster. In 1991, an water apportionment agreement was signed by the stooges of the unconstitutional and undemocratic governments, violating the historic rights of Sindhis and previous Indus Water Treaty of 1954, which involved World Bank. As if not satisfied, the present government is in a hurry to construct 'Kala Bagh and 32 other Dams'. World Sindhi Congress has repeatedly rejected the water apportionment agreement and strongly opposes the construction of the dams upstream, and demands that World Bank must withdraw its support in the fulfilment of such evil plans.

Widespread deforestation has further worsened the situation, as evidenced by recurrent flooding and extinction of many endangered species and damage to the wild life.

The infamous Census of 1991 which was designed to officially reduce Sindhis into a minority in their homeland, was suspended after it was realised that true population figures of Sindhis were beyond everybody's expectation. The unofficial figures leaked to the press showed that there are approximately 40 million Sindhis living in Sindh, inspite of the manipulation by the agencies and the fact that many Sindhi villages in and around Karachi and Hyderabad were not even registered in the process.

It is estimated that their are about 1400 Sindhi villages within the boundaries of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, with approximately 5 million Sindhis living there, who are denied the basic amenities of life including education, healthcare, electricity, gas, clean drinking water and the right to vote. Some of these centuries old villages are being demolished, evicting the rightful owners against their wishes and without due compensation or alternate arrangements, to build modern high rise buildings for commercial gains. World Sindhi Congress demands that all the Sindhi villages within and around Karachi, should be registered and the residents provided all the essential basic amenities of life and the right to vote.

Sindhis also feel extremely unhappy at the exploitation of their resources including oil, gas, coal, diamonds, gold, uranium, etc., which are being taken away by the federal government without paying due royalty to the people of Sindh, inspite of the fact that Sindh is the net contributor to the exchequer. It must be emphasised that the major benefactor from the federal budget, including the recent budget, is the unwanted and unnecessary military repeatedly involved in the massacre of the innocent people of the country. Hence, World Sindhi Congress strongly opposes the continuation of military operation and demands that the natural resources of Sindh must be used for the betterment of people of Sindh.

We strongly believe that the situation in Sindh can not improve unless the immediate steps are taken to improve the deteriorating law & order situation, rectify the social injustice, reverse the economic deprivation and eradicate the rampant corruption. Hence, World Sindhi Congress proposes socio-economic reforms including:

1. Redistribution of Wealth, revised and improved taxation and banking system.

2. Re-allocation of the land to local tillers and cooperative farming, with technical assistance and agricultural loans.

3. Encouraging small business and local commercial enterprise through government assistance.

4. Promoting the cottage and traditional industry in the rural areas.

5. Improving the communication network, including railways, roads, telecommunication, etc.

6. Improving the adult literacy to the internationally recognized standards.

7. Providing the social welfare assistance to the poor, through means testing, etc.

8. Establish a society where every citizen has a free access to education, healthcare, and easy availability of the essential amenities of life.

World Sindhi Congress has repeatedly expressed concern over the deteriorating educational atmosphere in Sindh, and the role of the government in perpetuating the conditions through unnecessary political interference. Sindhi medium schools are being closed down and non-Sindhi teachers are being appointed to teach Sindhi language while Sindhi teachers remain unemployed. Sindh University and other Sindhi institutions are deprived of essential funds for research and advancement of education. Sindhi educational institutions have been turned into army camps and Sindhi students hunted as renegades and dacoits. We have repeatedly demanded that immediate steps should be taken to prevent the total destruction of educational system and unnecessary political interference stopped to improve educational atmosphere.

World Sindhi Congress pronounced 1992 as the 'Year of Education' and proposed measures to improve the educational atmosphere and literacy. These proposals include:

1. Compulsory free education upto matric, for all those under 16 years of age.

2. Re-launching the adult education programme, specially in the villages and deprived urban areas.

3. Increasing the number and pay of teachers, specially primary and secondary schools, and their selection strictly on the merit bases, through competitive examination.

4. Regular checks on the attendance and standards of education by inspectors and supervisors.

5. Introducing the modern advanced technological methods of teaching & examination, and ensuring the confidentiality of the procedure.

6. Encouraging the research work by providing the essential funds and peaceful educational atmosphere and other incentives.

7. Providing the scholarships to the deserving students, strictly on merit bases.

World Sindhi Congress celebrated 1993 as the 'Year of Indigenous Population' in accordance with United Nations. The highlight of the year was an international conference 'Sindh & Sindhis - Right of Self Determination' held in London, on 9th-10th October 1993. The conference upheld the Sindhi nation's right of self determination in accordance with the International Bill of Rights. The conference condemned the use of force and continuation of military operation to deny Sindhis their historic national rights, including the Right of Self Determination.=20

We believe that the Right of Self Determination is an inherent and inalienable right of the people, and can not be denied by any government. It has resulted in the increasing violence and bloodshed around the world, as the governments are using the force to suppress the demands for the right of self determination by the historical nations. The situation in East Timor, South Moluccas, Tibet, Kashmir, Kurdistan, Chechneya, Bosnia-Herzgovina and many other places, with its tragic consequences, is well known to all of us. Hence, we propose that the effective measures must be devised by the United Nations, with the help of NGOs and the responsible Governments, to fulfil the right of self determination through peaceful means as per the International Covenants.

We have highlighted this issue in various forums, seminars, conferences and meetings, including the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, Working Group of Indigenous Populations, Human Rights International General Assembly and Seminar on Conflict Prevention, etc. We will continue to highlight this issue with the help and cooperation of other NGOs and individuals on all occasions and all levels until a solution is found to the problem. We request all concerned for the cooperation and support in future to resolve the conflict and bring peace around the world.

We call 'Sindh - A Country' and 'Sindhis - A nation', because often thousands years history and internationally recognized criteria of nationhood. Sindh has existed for milleniums, extending from the Himaliya to Arabian Sea and from Persia to India. Over the years its borders have shrunk to quarter of its original size because of the geo-political changes. Watered by mighty Indus River, a valley of abundance, it is the cradle of the world's oldest surviving civilisation called 'Indus Civilisation', considered to be about ten thousand years old, and still surviving in the villages and towns of Sindh. Inhabitated by the descendants of original inhabitants and subsequent settlers, who have lived in harmony and peace with the nature through centuries, developing their distinct culture, language and history.

It must be emphasised that Sindh has remained independent throughout its ten thousand years history, except for few periods in between. Sindhis voluntarily joined the newly created state of Pakistan, on the basis of Pakistan resolution of 1940, which promised that "... the constituent shall be autonomous and sovereign" . However, the subsequent undemocratic governments and military dictators never fulfilled the above promises, resulting in instability and unrest in the region, separation of Bangladesh and discontent among the remaining nations.

Sindhis feel that in the absence of any constitutional protection, their social economic cultural civil and political rights are being denied, 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 are left with no other option except to demand the right of self determination, according to the international law.

World Sindhi Congress is dedicated to establishing peace not only in Sindh, but also through out the world, by peaceful & democratic means. We believe that peace in the region, which is strategically vital for world peace, can not be ensured unless the expansionist ideas and policies of the military are stopped, and the right of self determination restored to the historical nations including Sindhis, Baluchs, Pathans, etc. We have proposed to the government of Pakistan to stop the military operation in Sindh, end violation of human rights and release all political prisoners.

The people of Sindh have lost faith in the present political system in Pakistan, as evidenced by the lack of participation in last elections. According to the official figures only 16% voted for the ruling party and only 11% voted for the opposition parties, whereas 73% Sindhis expressed their disappointment by not voting at all. World Sindhi Congress demands that a referendum must be held in Sindh under the supervision of United Nations, allowing 40 million Sindhis to decide about their future. This will prevent unnecessary loss of life, and restore peace & stability in the region.

Dr. Munawar A. Halepoto,
Secretary General, WSC.
Dated: 8th October 1995.

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