KARACHI: Speakers of a moot here Friday regretted that the Sindh Assembly laid the foundation stone of Pakistan but Sindh itself is deprived of its due rights till today.
As per details, on the occasion of the golden jubilee of the dissolution of the One Unit a big program was held here at the Arts Council of Pakistan that was attended by a large number of political workers, labours, professors, youths, and women. It was arranged by their coordination committee and Arts Council of Pakistan. The event of the part of the golden jubilee celebrations that started from January 2022 and will continue till year end.
The event was presided over by Abdul Khaliq Junejo chairman Jeay Sindh Mahaz and also addressed by Justice Rasheed Rizvi, Karamat Ali, Masood Noorani, Nasir Mansoor, Prof Aijaz Qureshi, Mazhar Abbas, Comrade Zehra Khan, Mehnaz Rahman and Dr Riaz Sheikh.
On the occasion, the English translation of the book written by Prof Aijaz Qureshi on the subject of the One Unit was launched. The program was moderated by senior journalist Yunus Mahar.
The speakers noted that the Sindh Assembly was the first assembly that passed a resolution in favour of Pakistan for the first time, providing a constitutional platform to the voices in favour of Pakistan. However, when Pakistan was formed the atrocities and injustices towards Sindh began. Karachi, the capital city of Sindh, was separated from Sindh and given to the possession of the Centre. Sindh University was expelled from Karachi. Sindhi medium schools in Karachi were closed down. The jobs, properties and factories of Sindhi people were snatched. However, the most lethal attack on Sindh was One Unit, a bid to end the thousands of years old separate identity and status of Sindh.
The speaker said that 15-year period of One Unit was the darkest period in the history of Sindh. The fertile lands of Sindh were given to civil and military bureaucracy. People from other areas start settlement in Sindh with officials support. Not only political activists but writers, poets, teachers, students, lawyers, farmers, labours and shopkeepers took part in this struggle. Moreover, after 1947, for the first time women not only took part politically but also played a leadership role and they went to jail. During this movement a truly nationalist literature, both prose and poetry was created.
Talking about the present situation, the speakers said that injustice to Sindh and loot and plunder of its resources has been continuing. They said that in the shape of 1973 constitution a sort of indirect One Unit is still slapped on Sindh. However, they said that the 18th amendment is a welcome development towards giving some rights to Sindh and other provinces.
The speakers termed demographic changes due to influx of population from areas, construction of dams and canals on the River Indus, illegal possession of lands in the name development and rapid environmental changes as the most serious problems facing Sindh.
They said that the State institutions are strengthening feudal and extremist classes to weaken secular, enlightened and progressive movement for the national and class-based struggle of Sindh. They regretted that in the nationalist movement of Sindh some vested interests were joining hands with feudal and extremist elements for their petty personal benefits.
They said that the Pakistan resolution of 1940 was basically an agreement and on its basis a new agreement should be inked with national entities in Pakistan. It was demanded that Bahria Town, DHA City, Zulfiqarabad, Thar coal project and such other anti-Sindh and anti-environment projects should be ended. A just water distribution should be ensured. To keep intact the historical secular cultural identity of Sindh influx of population should be controlled as per accepted International standards.