‘They can shoot me, but I will not let them in with shoes’

Karachi – When Laxman saw four men entering the Hindu temple with their shoes on, he instantly yelled at them to stop in their tracks. But the only reward he got for trying to protect the sanctity of his place of worship was a beating. With every punch and kick, he was called names like Bhangi (sweeper) and Kafir (infidel).

“I can’t explain how I felt at that moment. I was both enraged and terrified,” said the 35-year-old resident of the Shri Rama Mandir compound in Soldier Bazaar.

The demolition of the century-old temple stirred a sense of insecurity among the already frightened Hindu community in the city and reaffirmed its belief that people practicing the religion existed as second-class citizens in Pakistan.

“I said they can shoot me if they like, but I won’t let them go in with shoes,” said Laxman, a man partially paralysed by a stroke.

“Half of my body does not work, but at that moment, Rama Pir gave me the strength to fight, and I did what I could,” he said.

The men put the statues and tridents from the temple out on the ground. Then a bulldozer reduced the pre-partition Mandir to rubble. A number of houses in the compound were also demolished, rendering around a dozen families homeless. They even pried opened the donation box and took away the cash and jewellery, the residents alleged.

“We have been living in this compound since the British era”, said Maharaj Badriram, the priest of the Shri Rama Pir Mandir. “We never had any problems with the larger community, but the treatment meted out on this occasion was inhumane. People look to me for help, but now, I find myself helpless,” he said.

A 17-year-old Hindu boy, who took video footage of the planned demolition, claimed that some bearded men associated with a political party oversaw the destruction. “I don’t understand how people can insult the religion of others and expect respect in return,” he said.

The President of the Schedule Caste Federation Pakistan, Kalidas Khandara, said that people in the country take Hindus for granted. “They think we are weak, so they can intimidate us, but this time, it won’t happen.”

Protest

Hundreds of people from the Hindu community staged a peaceful rally from Doli Khata, Soldier Bazaar, to the Karachi Press Club to protest against the demolition of the Shri Rama Pir Mandir, which was illegally demolished on Saturday.

“Every time a temple is threatened, we have to run to the courts. It is the third time it has happened this year,” said Ramesh Kumar Wakwani, the head of the Pakistan Hindu Council.

“There should be a stipulated policy for our properties in this country; we are also a part of Pakistan.”

The protestors demanded that the government immediately restore the temple with all its dignity.

Wakwani said that the double standards against Hindus in the city could be gauged from the fact that those coming from outside and building shanty towns in Karachi get leases, but Hindus living here for more than a century were still considered illegal.

Speaking about the demolished temple, Kalidas Khandara of the Scheduled Caste Federation said that Ramapir Mandir was restored by the government in the year 2000, which went to show that the place of worship was not only registered, but received government grants as it was a\deserving heritage site.

Contempt law case: SC rejects federation’s request for full court

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the federation’s request of a full court to hear the petitions against the recently passed contempt of court law, DawnNews reported.

A five-judge bench of the apex court comprising Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Shakirullah Jan, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, Justice Jawad S Khawaja and Justice Tassadduq Hussain Jilani heard the petitions against the new law.

Pakistan – A History of Judicial Tyranny

By Shehryar Riaz Sheikh

26 April 2012 was another tragic day in our democratic history; the unanimously elected Prime Minister of Pakistan who in his wisdom ordered the release of the deposed Lordships of the Superior Courts immediately upon his election was convicted of Contempt of Court. Notwithstanding the uniqueness of NRO judgment condemning over 8000 accused without a hearing and the inherent selectivity of only targeting the President and his aides in the process, the overwhelming part of the judgment was implemented by the Federation of Pakistan. It is pertinent to mention that the grand strategist (of the “strategic depth” fame)–the promulgator of the infamous Ordinance luxuriously resides safe and secure from the wrath of law. Former Prime Minister Mohammad Khan Junejo and his almost 9 March’07 like moment of defiance during the notorious Zia regime is a case in point as to how an instance of individual heroism could not break the dictatorial chains. In case of the present dispensation, it was Benazir Bhutto’s sheer political maneuvering in striving for a political settlement, her ultimate sacrifice coupled with the sagacity of the political leadership along and the democratic struggle unleashed by the lawyers movement which paved way for the return of democracy to Pakistan. The present democratic dispensation is the sequel to NRO. History is bound to narrate as to how if had not been achieved, there would have been no elections, no assemblies, no free media and no free judiciary. The national leadership too would still have been languishing in exile.

Goodbye to 1940 Resolution by the Nation of Sindh

By: Ahmed Makhdoom

The 1940 Resolution was the basis for G.M. Syed’s decision to steer Sindh into the Federation, which will be known as ‘Pakistan!’

However, that 1940 Resolution proved to be a treachery and a dagger that stabbed the independence, language, rights and character of the nations, especially, the three nations of that Federation – Bengal, Sindh and Balochistan! 1940 Resolution has been mockingly and savagely torn into pieces by the deep security establishment of Punjab (aka Pakistan).

1971 Bengalis took their destiny in their own hands and fought for an independent state now known as Bangladesh. The nation of Balochistan has categorically stated that they have nothing to do with the deep security establishment – no more lies and fraud. Balochs are on their way to becoming a Free and Sovereign nation!

There are two choices for Sindh:

1. Remain in deep security state influenced by al-Qaeda ideology and see the extinction of the gregarious nation of Sindh, Sindhi language, vibrant Sindhi culture and brilliant way of life, glorious history and heritage and the ignominious death of Sindhi Nation and civilisation.

2. Get the hell out of deep security state of brutal agencies – and struggle for the Freedom and Independence of Sindh and save the centuries old Indus civilisation of peace, Sidnhi language, culture, history, heritage, values, way of life and Secular Sufi traditions of Sindhiyat.

Nation of Sindh should decide that no more reliance on 1940 Resolution, no more being part of this fraudulent system and no more being dictated by Punjab-dominated and al-Qaeda influenced security establishment!

Betraying the 1940 spirit?

The Pakistan Resolution promised to safeguard the rights of the Muslim minorities living in the Muslim-majority provinces of British India; it sought independence and sovereignty for those provinces outside the independent Indian Union.

However, the struggle took a new turn after the creation of Pakistan, when Bengali, Pashtun, and subsequently Sindhi and Baloch nationalist movements rose to press for provincial autonomy. Later, a powerful federation embracing the idea of the ideological state also led to alienating the country’s religious minorities. Many have come to live in fear because discrimination against them has been given legal cover, in effect, depriving them of equal rights. Here, leaders from various political parties speak of their respective party’s stance on the issues that haunt Pakistan’s minorities, and on ways to redress the problem…

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Mir Hasil Bizenjo, National Party

National party is secular, democratic & secular. We do not believe in minorities, all citizens are equal & must not be discriminated against on the basis of caste, creed or religion. It is matter of great concern for us that the state discriminate against own people in the name of religion.

We have to fight against this constitutionally by making Pakistan a secular state. National party has protested in each & every case of discrimination against Hindus & Christian. Hindus in Balochistan are being victimised by religious groups & criminals. Religious fundamentalism is a major threat to non-Muslim communities, against which political parties & civil society must rise. The solution is a strong, secular & democratic Pakistan.

Courtesy: http://www.dawn.com/2012/03/23/betraying-the-1940-spirit.html

Balochistan resolution in US Congress drives Pakistan crazy

By Chidanand Rajghatta

WASHINGTON: A resolution moved by a group of US Congressmen calling for right to self-determination for the Baloch people has driven Pakistan to hysteria, with its leaders from the Prime Minister down questioning Washington’s commitment to the country’s sovereignty.

Following a Congressional hearing last week on the human rights situation in Balochistan, the Obama administration had assured Islamabad that it is committed to the country’s unity and integrity, but suspicion runs deep in Pakistan that Washington is intent on fingering the country on account of its covert support for terrorists.

Some hardline American analysts have suggested that the Washington help the Baloch break away from the federation so that American and Nato forces can have unfettered access to landlocked Afghanistan, given how Pakistan has been holding the US to ransom.

While the hearing itself had caused much disquiet in Islamabad and pushed an angry Pakistan into lodging formal protests, the latest resolution has driven its establishment to hysteria and distraction. Pakistan’s prime minister Yousef Raza Gilani condemned the resolution as a move to undermine the country’s sovereignty, and the Pakistani foreign office and the embassy in Washington took exception to it, saying it was against the “very fundamentals of US-Pakistan relations.”

Politics behind the resolution: Introduced by California Republican Dana Rohrabacher and co-sponsored by two other Republican Congressmen Louie Gohmert (Texas) and Steve King (Iowa), the House Concurrent Resolution says that the Baluchi nation has a “historic right to self-determination.”

Stating that Baluchistan is currently divided between Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan with no sovereign rights of its own, the resolution explains that “in Pakistan especially, the Baluchi people are subjected to violence and extrajudicial killing,” and therefore, the Baluchi people “have the right to self-determination and to their own sovereign country; and they should be afforded the opportunity to choose their own status.”

“The Baluchi, like other nations of people, have an innate right to self-determination,” Congressman Rohrabacher said in a statement. “The political and ethnic discrimination they suffer is tragic and made more so because America is financing and selling arms to their oppressors in Islamabad.”

The statement explained that historically Baluchistan was an independently governed entity known as the Baluch Khanate of Kalat which came to an end after invasions from both British and Persian armies. An attempt to regain independence in 1947 was crushed by an invasion by Pakistan.

“Today the Baluchistan province of Pakistan is rich in natural resources but has been subjugated and exploited by Punjabi and Pashtun elites in Islamabad, leaving Baluchistan the country’s poorest province,” it said.

Baloch blood on our hands : DAILY TIMES EDITORIAL

Finally the Federal Ministry of Human Rights has woken up to the woes of the people of Balochistan and taken notice of the rising number of deaths in the province. The human rights ministry has decided to form a task force that will probe human rights violations in Pakistan’s largest province. A report was earlier compiled by the interior ministry’s Crisis Management Cell (CMC). According to this report, Rs 900 million has been spent by deploying 17 regular units and paramilitary troops to put an end to rising violence in Balochistan. This is astonishing considering that the money is being spent on the same forces that the Baloch people hold responsible for their miseries. A military operation is going on in the province and the ‘kill and dump’ policy being pursued by the military and its intelligence agencies is no secret. Various NGOs and human rights organisations, both local and international, have documented this in their reports. The human rights ministry’s task force needs to take into account how deploying more paramilitary troops is part of the problem, not part of the solution, to the ongoing crisis in Balochistan. Although it is not in the hands of the federal and/or the provincial governments to end the military operation since they do not call the shots when it comes to the military’s policies, it is pertinent for the human rights ministry to act according to its nomenclature by persuading GHQ that its policies in Balochistan are hurting the federation.

Killing innocent Baloch whose only fault is to ask for their basic and just rights is criminal. Thousands of Baloch are missing. Tortured and bullet-riddled bodies of Baloch missing persons are found every other day in the province. Under these circumstances, pursuing a repressive policy is not just the height of injustice but also a threat to the country’s unity. The military made the same mistake in East Pakistan. Instead of learning from past mistakes, our military keeps making new and more senseless mistakes.

The need of the hour is to stop the military operation at once. The Frontier Corps (FC) has terrorised the Baloch for many years now. It is time to stop their brutal activities. Kidnapping, torturing and murdering our own Baloch brethren is not something that can be allowed to take place. Baloch insurgents have taken up arms in frustration. The calls for ‘freedom’ are a result of the FC’s ‘kill and dump’ policy.

Trying to solve the crisis in Balochistan through military means is a disaster waiting to happen. This is the fifth military operation in Balochistan. The last four operations only alienated the Baloch further and this one could well be the last nail in the federation’s coffin. A political solution is the only way out of this quagmire. Talking to the Baloch leadership — those in the mountains and those in exile — can bring peace pack. The democratically elected civilian government may be weak but it should not sweep this issue under the carpet because in the end, the blood of the Baloch will be on the hands of the whole Pakistani nation that silently watched this massacre and did not raise its voice. Let us not bloody our hands any further; let us raise our hands for justice instead.

Courtesy » Daily Times

We All MUST Observe 12th October as A BLACK DAY for Democracy in Pakistan

– by Zulfiqar Halepoto

All military coups, dictatorial rules and martial laws in Pakistan were illegal, immoral and unconstitutional, which polluted political culture, destroyed social cohesiveness, killed diversity and unity of federating units and turned a country of progressive, peace and democracy loving people into an authoritarian and rough state. Pakistan today is considered as heaven of terrorism and all illegal doings because of illegal rule of extremists and anti-democratic forces.

But Musharraf rule was the worst. He was a racist dictator. He divided the nation and tried to weaken the federating units. He killed Benazir Bhutto, Mir Balach Mari, and Nawab Akbar Bugti and hundreds of patriot sons of soil. He hijacked democracy and tried to divide Sindh on administrative designs through local government system. He wanted to have a war among peaceful citizens of Sindh, He started civil war in Balochistan and push KPK in to Taliban’s trap, he undermined the interests of Siraikis, he add fuel to fire to weaken Punjab on sectarian and other lines.

October 12th, 1999 was the black day in the democratic history of Pakistan when Musharraf unconstitutionally ousted an elected parliament. We have seen that only PMLN remember the day and I think this day should be observed as black day by all peace and democracy loving people. Though Mian Nawaz Sharif Saheb also wanted to introduce MALOOKAT and obsessed to be a modern AMIR UL MOMNEEN through 12th-13th and 14th constitutional amendments mandate of the people of Pakistan to decide his fate in the next elections, his overthrown was never accepted by democracy loving people by the hands of a TALE AAZMA FAUJI GENERAL.

LET US WHOLEHEARTDLY CONDEMN MILITARY TAKEOVERS AND ESPECIALLY MUSHARRAF’s RULE.

Courtesy: Pakistani e-lists/ e-groups, October 12, 2011.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) supports the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ)

IFJ Backs Pakistani Journalists in Rejecting Terms for Murder Inquiry

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) supports the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in rejecting of the Pakistan Government’s terms for appointing a judicial commission to investigate the abduction and murder in late May of journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad. …

Read more: International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

Afraid of devolution? -by I.A Rehman

– WONDERS never cease. In the second decade of the 21st century, the transfer of power to the units of a federation has been made controversial! Efforts are being made to help the centre retain the privileges that rightfully belong to the provinces.

No student of politics will deny that Pakistan broke up in 1971 largely as a result of the policies designed to make the centre strong at the expense of provincial rights and aspirations. Nor can anyone forget that the failure to restore to the provinces what has always been due to them poses the greatest threat to the state’s integrity today.

We are also familiar with the arguments employed while calling for making the hands of one ruler or another strong. It was said the country faced so many threats that a centrally organised security edifice alone could preserve its integrity. The centre alone had the mental and physical wherewithal to achieve economic progress. In an Islamic state there could be only one centre of power and Pakistan had a special reason to crush centrifugal forces and fissiparous tendencies which were being fanned by the enemies of the state — democrats, secularists, advocates of the nationalities’ rights, separatists, et al.

For six decades, the politics of Pakistan revolved around the federal question. Any stratagem that could prevent the state from becoming a federation was in order — the fiction of parity, the abolition of provinces in the western part of the original state, the imposition of martial law and the state’s declaration of war against the majority nationality and the smallest nationality both. No wonder almost all democratic movements in the country have had their origins in the federating units’ struggle for self-government.The central demand was that the centre should keep only three or four subjects such as foreign affairs, external security, currency and communications. All other subjects — internal security, local government, planning, education and social welfare — were to be restored to the provinces.

It is in this context that one should examine the national consensus on re-designing the polity by meeting some of the main demands of the federating units. The endorsement of the 18th Amendment by all shades of opinion in parliament is nothing short of a miracle. It not only marks a giant stride towards realising the promise of the 1973 constitution, in several respects it surpasses the 1973 consensus.

Mujib’s 6 points

1. The constitution should provide for a Federation of Pakistan in its true sense on the 1940 Lahore Resolution and the parliamentary form of government with supremacy of a legislature directly elected on the basis of universal adult franchise.

2. The federal government should deal with only two subjects: defence and foreign affairs, and all other residuary subjects shall be vested in the federating states.

3. Two separate, but freely convertible currencies for two wings should be introduced; or if this is not feasible, there should be one currency for the whole country, but effective constitutional provisions should be introduced to stop the flight of capital from East to West Pakistan. Furthermore, a separate banking reserve should be established and separate fiscal and monetary policy be adopted for East Pakistan.

4. The power of taxation and revenue collection shall be vested in the federating units and the federal centre will have no such power. The federation will be entitled to a share in the state taxes to meet its expenditures.

5. There should be two separate accounts for the foreign exchange earnings of the two wings; the foreign exchange requirements of the federal government should be met by the two wings equally or in a ratio to be fixed; indigenous products should move free of duty between the two wings, and the constitution should empower the units to establish trade links with foreign countries.

6. East Pakistan should have a separate militia or paramilitary forces.

Source – Sindhi e-lists/ e-groups, April 21, 2011.

No Surprise, they can deny the 18th constitutional amendment but they cannot hide themselves from the people of oppressed constituent units of Pakistan

Dar resigns as deputy chief of commission

By Amir Wasim

ISLAMABAD: In what appears to be a face-saving move, Senator Ishaq Dar of the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-N resigned on Wednesday as deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on Implementation of 18th Amendment.

In a five-page letter to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Senator Dar cited differences over the devolution of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and transfer of assets and services of federal employees to the provinces as the main reasons for his decision.

Last week, the PML-N senator found himself in a difficult situation when reporters took him on during a news conference with the chairman of the commission, Senator Raza Rabbani, for defending the planned HEC devolution which was against the stance of his party. “I am not responsible for everybody in the party,” he said at the time. …

Read more : DAWN

Pakistan can no longer be ruled from Islamabad

– National Integration – Masood Sharif Khan Khattak

Communication infrastructure, domestic tourism, undiluted provincial autonomy and bonding through the workplace play a vital role in the integration of a nation. Pakistan’s national integration has suffered immensely because these factors have never been crucially important to our leadership. Pakistan’s communication infrastructure is primitive, domestic tourism is non-existent, provincial autonomy only receives lip-service and bonding through the workplace is totally missing except in the armed forces. Uniform development across the country over the past sixty years would have solidly integrated the Pakistani nation but that did not happen due to absolute incompetence, poor leadership and corruption at all levels. The price Pakistan is paying for its neglect is in the shape of an internally disjointed nation forced to suffer the present-day indignities in the shape of terrorism and insurgency.

The political and military establishment must now understand that the military potential of any country is multiplied manifolds when it is backed by a nation that is well-integrated. An integrated nation can cover up for military shortfalls but military strength cannot cover up for the shortfalls of a nation that lacks integration and cohesion. The Soviet Union’s break-up in 1991 is an example that amply illustrates this aspect. Pakistan must, therefore, accord top priority to uniform development throughout the country in order to have a nation that can back its enviable military potential in a solid manner; if not, then all will be lost.

Nawaz Sharif deserves the credit for initiating the modern communication infrastructure of Pakistan that is so essential for the integration of a nation that lives in a country as big as Pakistan. The launching of the Lahore-Islamabad motorway by Nawaz Sharif in the early 90s was a huge step in the right direction. If the process had been initiated decades ago Pakistan today would have been a very cohesively integrated nation. …

Read more : PKcoluminist.com

Interview with Pratap Mehta on Pakistan

– Pratap Mehta: Pakistan’s Perpetual Identity Crisis

Pratap Bhanu Mehta, a political theorist and intellectual historian based in New Delhi, is leading us through another reflection on the 1947 partition of India and Pakistan.

The reconsideration of partition is a critical, current existential question not only for South Asians, but also for Americans who watch the continuous outrages from Taliban and CIA sanctuaries inside Pakistan. It’s a question on many levels — terrorism, geopolitics, ethnicity and religion — but, Pratap Mehta says, “it’s fundamentally the question of the identity of a country.”

In his telling of the partition story, the contemporary reality of Pakistan grew out of a failure to answer a core challenge of creating a nation-state: how do you protect a minority? It’s Mehta’s view that the framers of the modern subcontinent — notably Gandhi, Jinnah & Nehru — never imagined a stable solution to this question. He blames two shortcomings of the political discourse at the time of India’s independence:

The first is that it was always assumed that the pull of religious identities in India is so deep that any conception of citizenship that fully detaches the idea of citizenship from religious identity is not going to be a tenable one.

The second is that Gandhi in particular, and the Congress Party in general, had a conception of India which was really a kind of federation of communities. So the Congress Party saw [the creation of India] as about friendship among a federation of communities, not as a project of liberating individuals from the burden of community identity to be whatever it is that they wished to be.

The other way of thinking about this, which is to think about a conception of citizenship where identities matter less to what political rights you have, that was never considered seriously as a political project. Perhaps that would have provided a much more ideologically coherent way of dealing with the challenges of creating a modern nation-state. – – Pratap Bhanu Mehta with Chris Lydon at the Watson Institute, April 12, 2011.

Unlike many other Open Source talkers on Pakistan, Pratap Mehta does not immediately link its Islamization to the United States and its1980s jihad against the Soviets. Reagan and his CIA-Mujahideen military complex were indeed powerful players in the rise of Islamic extremism in Pakistan, he agrees, but the turn began first during a national identity crisis precipitated by another partition, the creation of Bangladesh in 1971.

Suddenly, Mehta is telling us, Pakistan could no longer define itself as the unique homeland for Muslims in the subcontinent. In search of identity, and distinction from its new neighbor to the east, Pakistan turned towards a West Asian brand of Islam, the hardline Saudi Wahhabism that has become a definitive ideology in today’s Islamic extremism.

Mehta is hopeful, though, that in open democratic elections Islamic parties would remain relatively marginalized, that despite the push to convert Pakistan into a West Asian style Islamic state since 1971, “the cultural weight of it being a South Asian country” with a tradition of secular Islam “remains strong enough to be an antidote.”

Click here to listen Radio Open Source interview with Pratap Mehta, it is much more in depth than the text summary

Courtesy: http://www.radioopensource.org/pratap-mehta-pakistans-perpetual-identity-crisis/

Balochistan what way forward?

Sana Bacha is anchoring a program “Lekin” on very important issue of Baluchistan. Most of the grievances and demands of Balochs are valid. …

Courtesy: Geo TV (Program Lekin with Sana Bacha, 11 April, 2011)

via – Siasat.pk – You Tube

HEC issue to end up in the Supreme Court

By Zubair Shah

KARACHI: It is true that after the passage of 18th Constitutional Amendment, the Pakistani federation is inching towards the constitutional sketch made public in the Muslim League’s famous 1940 Lahore Resolution. However, this journey is not without a tough resistance by the country’s entrenched pro status quo centripetal forces, who would like to see a strong centre at the expense of federating units. Nothing highlights this phenomenon better than the drama around the planned devolution of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) announced recently.

Soon after the announcement, a smear campaign was launched by centripetal forces, who have been advocating and supporting the status quo based on numerous technical and legal grounds with apocalyptic predictions. …

Read more : Daily Times

Participate into Census 2011 : STAND UP AND BE COUNTED AS A SINDHI

As in coming days in Pakistan there will be Census after 13 years, indeed every one knows about the importance of population counting in a federation. Even in world scenario it has also a great impact of population. On the Other hand, before due to severe conspiracies against Sindh, we are suffering on our own land. In Karachi Sindhis are just as amount of salt in flour according to official census and several gazette. Even though realities are admirably different but our own fault and negligence became serious cause to the above throttle conditions of Sindhis existence.

If, we awake now and seriously think about and make every possible efforts to count each and every person in family throughout Sindh and more earnestly counting of Sindhis in Karachi then  it will be not late. An Awareness, Motivation and Pre-Preparation to activate our self voluntarily to make it possible the entire counting of Sindhis in Census 2011.

Controversial Kalabagh Dam will hurt the interests of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh and Pakistan as well

A Case Against Kalabagh Dam: Aziz Narejo

Filling in the Dots: Why PILDAT is Reviving Kalabagh Debate: Introductory Note by Kamran Shafi

Kalabagh Dam is a very bad idea indeed. If ONLY for the reason that 3 out of 4 federating units of this blessed country have rejected it.

I am familiar enough with the Mardan-Nowshera-Charsadda area well enough to know that when without this monstrosity there is water standing along the roads just three feet below the level of the road there has to be a big problem of water-logging already.

I can only hope that sense prevails and that our already frayed federation is not damaged further.

We also must ask the question WHY an organisation whose goal is “to strengthen and sustain democracy and democratic institutions” in this poor country should re-raise a hugely contentious issue like the Kalabagh Dam? Which has been DEMOCRATICALLY rejected by three-fourths of the country.

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A case Against Kalabagh Dam – by Aziz Narejo

A recent seminar in Karachi organized by an NGO, PILDAT has again brought the issue of Kalabagh Dam to the fore. Especially an irrational and unscrupulous statement at the seminar by IRSA chairman (from Punjab) has flared up the emotions among the stakeholders.

Actually he is not alone in this. There is a certain lobby in Pakistan, which continues to insist on the construction of Kalabagh Dam on Indus River ignoring the fierce opposition from the provinces of Khyber- Pakhtoonkhwa and Sindh …

Read more : Indus Herald

16th December 1971 the day of the demise of two nation theory

Fall of Dhaka: Independence of Bengalis

by Zulfiqar Halepoto, Hyderabad, Sindh

16th December 1971 was the day of the demise of two nation theory, a fake theory to control a land under the so-called ideology of one Muslim nation.

Bengalis fought against the illegal, unconstitutional and immoral domination of civil and military establishment of West Pakistan. A very progressive federating unit brawled against the political and economic disparities. Bengalis refused to live a slaves’ life.

We still have time to save rest of the Pakistan by accepting the fact that Pakistan is made of five historical nations and centuries old civilizations. Rest of the country should declare Sindh, Punjab, Pukhtoonkhwa and Balochistan as sovereign federating units as promised in 23 March, 1940 Lahore resolution.

December 16th is a day of inspiration to fight against the civil and military establishments/ dictatorships, who want to make us a garrison state, and we have to continue our struggle to make Pakistan a true federation.

To read more about Bangladesh – Wikipedia

Courtesy: Sindhi e-lists.

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– More about Fall of Dhaka – BBC urdu

UNESCO’s Director-General condemns murder of Pakistani journalist Abdul Hameed Hayatan in Baluchistan

The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, has called on authorities to investigate the murder of Pakistani journalist Abdul Hameed Hayatan, whose body was found with gunshot wounds on 18 November outside of Turbat, in western Pakistan’s Baluchistan province.

“I condemn the murder of Abdul Hameed Hayatan,” said Ms Bokova. “An act of violence on a journalist is not only a crime against the individual victim. It also represents an attack on freedom of expression, which is a fundamental right and a cornerstone of democratic society. I call on the authorities in Pakistan to spare no effort in investigating this murder and bringing the culprits to justice.”

Known also as Lala Hameed Baloch, Hameed, 25, was found dead in a canal alongside his friend Hamid Ismail after they disappeared from their home town of Gwadar, in Baluchistan’s west, on October 25, according to the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). Hameed reported for the Urdu-language Daily Intikhab, and worked as a stringer for several other news outlets.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) notes that Hameed’s murder brings to 11 the total number of reported deaths of media workers in Pakistan this year. Four of these deaths have been in Baluchistan. …

Read more : UNESCO

‘Parliament with unlimited powers can secularise state’

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court was hearing petitions challenging the 18th Amendment on Monday, DawnNews reported.

A 17-judge full court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, was hearing petitions challenging certain clauses in the Amendment.

During the hearing, the federation lawyer said that the parliament’s powers were limitless.

Responding to that, Chief Justice Iftikhar said that limitless powers could secularise the country.

Read more >> DAWN

Well Done Punjab/ Pakistan!

…. stealing the water of Sindh. –  Mir Raza

Killing of Habib Jalib Balouch and stealing the water of Sindh by force has damaged the old and already fragmented edifice of this country but the short heightened leadership of Paunjab have no vision to see this damage.

… They are DWARFS, they can’t read the writing on the wall, they haven’t learned from the seceding of Bangladesh from Pakistan, murdering 4 Bhuttos and sending their dead bodies to Sindh. They are racist and fascist, they are killers, that is way today Balochistan is bleeding.

They think, they can steal water and other resources of Sindh and Baluchistan. They can open Chashma-Jehlum link (CJ) canal by force but they don’t know how much damage they have done of this federation by their illegal actions. By Opening CJ Canal illegally, they are working well to destroy the rest of Pakistan. Well Done Punjab.

Courtesy: Sindhi e-lists/ e-groups, July 15, 2010

Benazir Bhutto Returns From Exile – Her assassination weaken the federation if they admit the fact.

Source- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8nk5fmPB9s&feature=player_embedded#

A call for the people of Sindh – Let us March to Islamabad on the first meeting of NFC

by: Javed Qazi, Sindh

A new National Finance Commission has been announced. Ishaq Dar has been nominated by the Punjab government to represent them. And from Sindh it is our Kaiser Bengali. It is a constitutional requirement that every five years such committee sits to set the criteria of distributing the revenues from the central pool that goes to the provinces.

The fact is that it was simply a formality sort of exercise if ever previously has been done and the criteria is always the population based. Hence Sindh receives very dismal vis a vis the amount of revenues it generates. Where as Punjab receives the more than it generates.

Not only that the eighty percent of the employees that work in the federation are from Punjab . The very federation is located in the Punjab and any development that takes place in the federal Capital, its benefits go more to the Punjab . The population of the capital has its 80 percent people from Punjab .

Even the taxes that are provincial in nature and characteristic if gauge it under the rule of law, constitutionalism for the matter under 1973 constitutions, such right has also been usurped by the central government.

If this is the spectrum it implies that Punjab and the federation is same and no one can form the government in the federation without having a support of the institutions which have predominantly a Punjab ’s representatives.

Hundreds of activists illegally arrested at the demand of secular and democratic united Kashmir!

PAKISTAN/KASHMIR: In the Pakistani part of Kashmir several political activists and students have been arrested for observing the demands for an independent Kashmir, free from India and Pakistan. Mr. Sardar Liaquat Hayat, the Central President of the Jammu Kashmir National Awami Party, and several activists of the Jamu and Kashmir National Awami Party (JKNAP) and Jammu Kashmir National Students Federation (JKNSF), were arrested without any judicial warrants or charges. At the time of arrest on July 19, 2009, they were protesting against the call by the prime minister of Kashmir to annex Kashmir with Pakistan. Police conducted raids in Rawalakote city and arrested Liaquat Hayat, Wajid Ayyub and Shaihid Sharaf without arrest warrants from their homes. The same day the ruling party of Pakistani Kashmir organized a public rally to commend the so-called Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan at Rawalakote city.

Should Sindhi intellectuals speak with PML-N?

PML N President Shahbaz Sharif, CM Punjab, had invited writers, journalists and intellectuals from Sindh to hold dialogue on issues.

One of the leading Sindhi writer and young intellectual Barrister Zamir Ghumro while thanking Mr. Sharif had declined to attend the meeting. Mr. Ghumro, a young lawyer, who resigned from his commissioned passed bureaucratic job to seek career in law, belongs to a working class family from Khairpur, now practicing and law and working in Karachi, had written an article in daily Kawish (Monday January 12, 2009) articulating reasons for not attending that meeting, he had outlined some conditions that he believes PML N needs to fulfill if it wants any meaningful dialogue with Sindhis.

Barrister Ghumro had also suggested 8-point Constitutional Amendments in order to make current federation as true representatives of four provinces. He is very assertive in his views, Could he be assertive presenting same suggestions to PPP led government also, who too complain of distorted and unfair federation, but have so far failed to take any initiative to address the question of provincial autonomy, NFC and Balochistan issues, lip service is available in plenty. Mr. barrister Ghumro had expressed distaste and rejected MPL N ‘conservative social agenda’ which seems to impose on Pakistan.

Here are some excerpts from his article, while the attached document is in Sindhi, his complete article, those of you who can read it. “Punjab has benefited from federation of Pakistan in last 60 years, today Punjab has over 80% representation in the federal government. It controls economy and natural resources of the country. Democratic governments in Pakistan do not survive in country because ‘the forces’ who dominate governance of the country do not want to give up their domination. Thus Punjab, before initiating dialogue with Sindh, needs to in account this and decide what it has to offer now the provinces, If PML N is ready for these changes, then it should implement such objectives via parliamentary legislation, this act will create trust among political forces in other provinces including Sindh. Sindh will be willing to share power with PML N on the basis of principles not merely power.”

“Present attempts of PML-N are seen as attempts to undermine ‘democrat mandate of Sindh and Sindhi people, Sindh wants its ‘Right to Self-Governance’ be respected, if any political force of Punjab, in collaboration with ‘Establishment’ conspire to deprive Sindh and subvert political process, Sindhi writers will not be part of these efforts.

At present Sindh has two critical questions: First, National Rights on basis of Justice, Secondly, Better governance in province. The first question is concerned with federal government while second is Sindh’s internal problem, where of course people are not happy with PPP led government in province, there are differences in province among Sindhis on this but it should not used as reason to dismiss current democratic dispensation, it amounts depriving Sindhis of their democratic mandate.

Punjab must understand that “Sindhis consider respect to their democratic mandate which is self-governance above and over everything else, whatever comes to them bypass this right is lollypop for them. Because there cannot be ‘National Rights’ without ‘Right to Self Governance”.

Before holding dialogue with Sindh, PML N must not forget historically where are we standing: (the struggle for independent homelands by) Muslim majority provinces in British India showed that they refused to live under Hindu-domination, that was fundamental reason of separation/partition, we understand Bengal went separate from Pakistan because Punjab refused to accept Bengal’s dominance, in this background, then is it essential for Sindh to accept Punjab’s majoritarian dominance. In order to accept this majoritarian rule there has to be constitution, democracy and national rights, guaranteed in the constitution. Strengthening such a constitution would make federation strong.

For making such a compatible constitution in new century, make following amendments in constitution, and for this before PML N brings in 17th amendment, it should bring provincial autonomy bill first, only then we would believe that “it (PML N) is not bringing Punjab’s majoritarian rule”, provincial autonomy bill will establish trust among that provinces that PML N believes in federation based on principles.

PML N needs to bring at least following 8 amendments in constitution; only then one can trust their intentions:

1. PML N should work with PPP to abolish ‘concurrent list from constitution

2. Regarding Fiscal matters, General Sales Tax (GST) should be handed over to provinces, NFC should base on multiple criterion (instead of sole population base)

3. PML N should do away 1991 Water Accord and should work out a new agreement on the basis of 1945 water agreement between Sindh and Punjab.

4. All federal appointments, Supreme Court Judges to ambassadors should be done with Senate approval so that Punjab’s majoritarian dominance remained checked.

5. Natural resources including gal and oil should be given back to provinces, ensuring such transfer amendments should be introduced in the constitution

6. A Superior Federal Commission needs to be established which guarantee equal representation and share in jobs to all provinces

7. In case martial law is imposed Provinces should have “Right to Self-Determination’, which is given to nations by UN charter also

8. In order to strengthen Senate of Pakistan, on lines of American Senate, Senate should be strengthened

Pakistan’s experience shows that there is in-sufficient legislation to thwart and stop military take-overs and imposition of martial, in this regard PPP and PML N need to work together, federation should be volunteer not forceful.

Till this happens, we believe PML-N attempt to do away 17th amendment is guided by power consideration, not democratic principles, they have always attempted to impose Punjab’s conservative social order as they did in the past in 1990-91 Nawaz League introduced Shariyat Act, Qisas and Diyat and during his last government, Mian Nawaz Sharif even tried tobecome Amirul Moomneen.

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شهباز شريف جي دعوت ۽ پنجاب سان ڊائلاگ!
بئريسٽر ضمير گهمرو
تازو پنجاب جي وڏي وزير شهباز شريف سنڌ مان مون سميت ڪجهه دوستن کي لاهور اچڻ جي دعوت ڏني، پر نه ته ملاقات جي ايجنڊا ظاهر ڪئي وئي، نه وري ان جا سياسي مقصد واضح ڪيا ويا، بس لاهور جي شاهي فرمان تي سنڌ جي سياست ڪنٽرول ڪرڻ لاءِ سنڌ جي هڪ اهم حلقي کي پنهنجو ڪرڻ لاءِ اهڙي ملاقات جو بندوبست ڪيو ويو آهي. سندس اهڙي ڪوٺ ڏيڻ تي ٿورائتا آهيون، پر سنڌ جو عوام پنجاب سان ڊائلاگ پ پ دشمني وارن اصولن تي نه، پر وفاقي اصولن تي ٻڌل ايجنڊا تي ڪرڻ کان نٿو ڪيٻائي. سنڌ جي سياسي ايجنڊا ايڏي ڏکي به ناهي، جيڪا پنجاب کي قابل قبول نه هجي، پر پنجاب هميشه وفاقي اصولن جي ڀڃڪڙي ڪندي سنڌ جي قومي حقن کي پوئتي ڌڪيو آهي، ان ڪري پهريون ته نواز ليگ کي سنڌ جي زندگي ۽ موت جي مسئلن تي واضح موقف اختيار ڪرڻو پوندو، سنڌ جي جمهوري مينڊيٽ کي تسليم ڪرڻو پوندو ۽ ان ئي بنياد تي وفاق کي انصاف جي اصولن تي هلائڻ لاءِ ڪا ڳالهه ٻولهه ٿيڻ گهرجي، نه ڪي پاور پاليٽڪس جي بنياد تي. اقتداري سياست بنيادي اصولن طئه ٿيڻ کانسواءِ ڇسي ۽ خالي آهي، ان جو طرف ۽ قبلو هجڻ گهرجي. ان لاءِ ضروري آهي ته نواز ليگ پهريون پنهنجو موقف واضح ڪري ته هوءَ سنڌ جي جمهوري مينڊيٽ جنهن سان ڀل اسان کي ۽ ٻين کي اختلاف هجن، پر ان بنيادي اصولن کان منهن نه ڦيريندي ته وفاق لاءِ جمهوري بنياد مرڪزي حقيقت رکي ٿو ۽ سرڪار کي تبديل ڪرڻ جو اختيار اسٽيبلشمينٽ وٽ نه پر عوام وٽ هجڻ گهرجي.
ان ۾ ڪو به شڪ نه آهي ته نواز ليگ سنڌ ۽ بلوچستان مان گذريل چونڊن ۾ پنهنجي تڏا ويڙهه ڏسندي اتي پير پائڻ گهري ٿي ۽ کين اهڙو حق به آهي ته هو ننڍن صوبن ۾ ساست ڪري. ان جو بنياد هو ان ڳالهه تي رکي ٿي ته جڏهن پنجاب مان پاڪستان پيپلز پارٽي کي ووٽ ملي سگهن ٿا ته پوءِ سنڌ مان نواز ليگ کي ڇو نه ملڻ گهرجن؟ ان جو بنيادي سبب پ پ پ پاران وفاق کي جمهوري بنيادن تي آئين ۽ قانون موجب هلائڻ ۽ صوبن ۾ عوام جي Self Government وارو حق ڀل محدود سطح تي ئي سهي، پر ان کي مڃڻ گهرجي. نواز ليگ کي نه وسارڻ گهرجي ته اها جڏهن به اقتدار ۾ آئي، ان نه رڳو ان جمهوري بنياد کي ڌڪ هڻڻ چاهيو، پر سنڌ تي راڻا مقبول ۽ عليم عادل جو اقتدار مڙهيو. صوبائي اسيمبلي ۽ سرڪار کي گهر ڀيڙو ڪيو. ڪالاباع ڊيم جا اعلان ڪيا، ڄام صادق جي دور ۾ 1991ع ۾ سنڌ جي پاڻي وارو ٺاهه مڙهي ان کان به ڦري وئي ۽ 1994ع ۾ پاڻي واري سرڪاري نوٽيفڪيشن تي پاڻي ڏيڻ لڳي، جنهن ڪري سنڌ ۾ نواز ليگ کي ڪڏهن به مڃتا نه ملي، ڇو ته ماضي ۾ نواز ليگ جنرل ضياءَ ۽ رنجيت سنگهه واري پاليسي تي ڪارآمد هئي. اها وفاق کي آئين ۽ 1940ع جي قرارداد جي بنياد تي نه پر پنجاب جي شائونسٽ سوشل ايجنڊا تي هلائڻ چاهي ٿي. نواز ليگ ۽ سنڌي عوام جي اعتماد واري کوٽ يا Trust Deficit وڌندو ويو. هاڻي نواز ليگ جڏهن سنڌي عوام ۾ پنهنجي ان اعتماد واري کوٽ کي بحال ڪرڻ جو سوچيو آهي، جيڪا اڪ مان ماکي لاهڻ آهي ته ان کي سنڌي عوام لاءِ دعوت نامن جا شاهي فرمان جاري نه ڪرڻا پوندا، پر شهباز شريف ۽ نواز شريف کي سنڌ اچي عوام سان ڳالهائڻو پوندو ۽ پوءِ جيڪو به طئي ٿئي ته ان لاءِ عملي قدم کڻڻا پوندا، نه ڪي اقتدار کان ٻاهر ويٺل رٺلن کي استعمال ڪري سنڌي عوام جي جمهوري مينڊيٽ کي تارپيڊو ڪرڻو پوندو، جنهن تي نه ته ڪو سمجهوتو ۽ نه ڪا ڳالهه ٻولهه ٿي سگهي ٿي.
گذريل سٺ سالن ۾ پاڪستان جي اقتدار ۽ معيشت مان گهڻو فائدو پنجاب کي پيو آهي، اڄ به وفاق ۾ سندس نمائندگي 80 سيڪڙو کان مٿي آهي، معيشت ۽ قدرتي وسيلن تي سندس ڪنٽرول آهي. موجوده جمهوري سرڪار کي اقتدار تي هڪ هٽي قائم ڪرڻ واريون قوتون ان ڪري ئي هلڻ نه ٿيون ڏين ۽ معيشت تي ڪنٽرول ڪري جمهوري سرڪار کي پهرين ڏينهن کان دل سان تسليم نه ڪيو ويو آهي، ان ڪري سنڌ سان ڊائلاگ ۾ پنجاب کي پنهنجي گذريل 60 سالا فائدن کي ڏسي هاڻي ننڍن صوبن لاءِ سوچڻو پوندو. ان لاءِ جيڪڏهن نواز ليگ تيار آهي ته پوءِ پارليامينٽ ذريعي اهڙن قدمن تي کيس عمل ڪرڻ گهرجي، جنهن سان سنڌ ۽ ٻين صوبن کي سندس قيادت تي ڀروسو پيدا ٿئي. سنڌ اقتدار جي ڪري نه، پر اصولن تي پنجاب سان ڀاڱي ڀائيوار ضرور ٿيڻ گهري ٿي. موجوده سنڌ جو جمهوري مينڊيٽ ان مقصد لاءِ ئي آهي، جڏهن به سنڌ جي جمهوري مينڊيٽ کي پٺي ڏني وئي آهي، ان جو نقصان وفاق کي ٿيو آهي، ان لاءِ ضروري آهي ته نه رڳو سنڌ جي جمهوري مينڊيٽ کي دل سان تسليم ڪيو وڃي، پر سياست جو بنياد سازش نه، پر جمهوري اصولن تي هجڻ گهرجي. سنڌ جا وفاق ۾ جمهوري اصول طئه ٿيڻ کانپوءِ ٻه وڏا اشوز آهن. (1) انصاف تي ٻڌل قومي حق، (2) سنڌ ۾ بهتر حڪمراني جو راڄ. قومي حق وفاقي سرڪار سان لاڳاپيل آهن، جڏهن ته سنڌ ۾ بهتر حڪمراني سنڌ جو اندروني مسئلو آهي، جنهن لاءِ اسين سنڌي ڀل ته پاڻ ۾ ڏند چڪ ڏيون، جهيڙا ڪريون، پر وري به اسان ۾ پاڻ ۾ گڏجي هلڻ ۽ جمهوري اصولن جي پاسداري ڪرڻ جي صلاحيت موجود آهي. ان کانسواءِ مٿين ٻن اشوز کان پهرين اوليت رکڻ وارو اشو وفاق ۽ صوبن ۾ جمهوري حق ۽ Self Governance واري حق جي مڃتا آهي، ان حق کي جيڪڏهن پنجاب ۽ ان سان سلهاڙيل اسٽيبلشمينٽ جون ڌريون نه ٿيون مڃين ته هو مٿين ٻن اشوز تي اسان سان ڪڏهن وفا نه ڪنديون، ڇو ته بدنيتي تي ٻڌل سياسي اتحاد ديرپا نه ٿيندو. ان لاءِ ضروري آهي ته نواز ليگ سهپ ۽ صبر جو دامن نه ڇڏي ۽ ملڪ ۾ جمهوري اصولن جي انحرافي نه ڪري باوجود ان جي ته چارٽر آف ڊيموڪريسي ۽ مري ڊڪليريشن تي عمل نه ٿيو هجي. ڇا چارٽر آف ڊيموڪريسي ۽ مري ڊڪليريشن تي بدعملي کي جمهوري مينڊيٽ کي ختم ڪرڻ جو جواز بڻائي سگهجي ٿو؟ اها ساڳي ڳالهه پي اين اي 1977ع ۾ ڪري ملڪ کي ڪاپاري ڌڪ هنيو هو، ان وقت جڏهن سموريون پارٽيون جمهوري حڪومت خلاف برسر پيڪار هيون. ان وقت کاٻي ڌر جي اڳواڻ ڪامريڊ ڄام ساقي سرڪاري عتاب ۾ هوندي به جمهوري سرڪار جي حمايت ڪئي هئي. هينئر به شين کي ان پسمنظر ۾ سمجهڻ جي ضرورت آهي، جڏهن سرڪار خلاف پروپيگنڊا ان مهم جو حصو آهي. سرڪار جي مخالفت ڪرڻ لاءِ ايوان آهن ته پوءِ ان مخالفت کي دشمنيءَ ۾ تبديل ڪرڻ ملڪ جي عوام جي مينڊيٽ جي توهين جي برابر آهي.
پنجاب کي اهو به سمجهڻ گهرجي ته سنڌ جمهوريSelf Governance کانسواءِ قومي حقن توڙي بهتر حڪمراني کي پنجاب جو لالي پاپ سمجهي ٿي، ڇو ته قومي حقن جو تصور جمهوري Self Governance کانسواءِ بي معنيٰ رڳو ۽ ٺلهو نعرو آهي. پهريون قومي حق صوبن جي عوام جي وفاق ۽ صوبن ۾ جمهوري سرڪار قائم ڪرڻ آهي. ان قومي حق کي جيڪو ان قوم جي جمهوري راءِ يا سياسي طاقت Political will جو سرچشمو آهي، کي سياسي مصلحتن جي ور نٿو چاڙهي سگهجي. قومي حقن ۾ جمهور جي راءِ پهرين جاءِ والاري ٿي. قومي حقن ۽ جمهوري راءِ کي اولين حيثيت حاصل آهي ۽ بين الاقوامي طور تي گڏيل قومن پاران ڏنل حق خوداختياري ۾ اهو ئي جمهور جو حق ۽ راءِ ڪار فرما آهي. جڏهن نواز ليگ ان حق جي پاسداري نه ڪري رهي آهي ته پوءِ سنڌ سان ڪهڙي بنياد تي ڊائلاگ ڪندي؟ سنڌ ڪڏهن به سازش ۽ لالي پاپ جي بنياد تي ڊائلاگ تي ڀروسو نٿي رکي.
پ پ سرڪار سان کوڙ سارن اشوز تي سنڌ جون پارٽيون، گروپ، دانشور ۽ اديب سخت ناراض آهن، سندن طرزِ حڪمراني ۽ قومي حقن تي موقف تي اهي سڀ ماڻهو ناراض آهن، پر پ پ سرڪار سنڌ جي جنهن قومي حق جي ترجماني ڪري ٿي، اهو آهي سنڌي عوام جو اجگر قومي جمهوري حق، جيڪا سنڌي عوام جي جمهوري راءِ آهي. سرڪار جي نااهل هجڻ جو عذر ڄاڻائي ان حق تان سنڌي عوام دستبردار ٿيڻ لاءِ تيار نه آهي، اها ڪا پ پ سرڪار جي حمايت نه، پر سنڌي عوام جي پنهنجي قومي جمهوري حق جو احترام ڪرڻ آهي. ان جمهوري حق کي نه مڃڻ ۽ ناراضگي ۽ مخالفت جي بنياد تي سنڌي پارٽين ۽ دانشورن کي پنهنجي اڻ چٽي ايجنڊا ۽ موقف تي هلائڻ آپشاهي جو بدترين مثال آهي، ان ڪري ئي شهباز شريف سان ڊائلاگ سنڌ جي قومي مفادن ۾ نه آهي، ڇو ته هن کي پهريان صوبن ۽ وفاق جو جمهوري قومي حق مڃڻ لاءِ تيار ٿيڻ گهرجي ۽ ان کي تارپيڊو ڪرڻ لاءِ اسٽيبلشمينٽ ۽ بنياد پرست سياسي پارٽين جهڙوڪ تحريڪِ انصاف ۽ جماعتِ اسلامي سان گڏ نه هلڻ گهرجي. پنهنجي جمهوري حقن خلاف اهڙي سازش کي سنڌ جو عوام رد ڪري ڇڏيندو.
نواز ليگ کي سنڌ سان ڊائلاگ ڪرڻ وقت ان ڳالهه کي نه وسارڻ گهرجي ته تاريخي طور اسين ڪٿي بيٺا آهيون. هندستان جي مسلمان صوبن هندو اڪثريتي اقتدار جي خوف کان هندستان کان عليحدگي اختيار ڪئي. گڏيل پاڪستان ۾ پنجاب بنگال جي اڪثريتي حڪمراني کي قبول ڪرڻ کان انڪار ڪيو ته ڇا هاڻي سنڌ تي واجب آهي ته هو پنجاب جي اڪثريتي اقتدار کي قبول ڪري؟ ان اڪثريتي اقتدار کي قبول ڪرڻ لاءِ آئين هجي ٿو، جمهوريت هجي ٿي، قومن جا حق هجن ٿا، جنهن کي آئين ۾ تحفظ ڏنو ويو آهي. ان آئين کي مضبوط ڪرڻ سان ئي وفاق مضبوط ٿيندو. اچو ته ان کي 21 صدين جي گهرجن سان ٺهڪندڙ بڻائڻ تي ان ۾ ترميمون تجويز ڪريون. ان لاءِ نواز ليگ پاران صرف 17 هين ترميم ئي نه، پر پهريون صوبائي خودمختياري جو بل آڻڻ گهرجي، جنهن کانپوءِ ئي سمجهبو ته نواز ليگ پنجاب جو اڪثريتي راڄ نه، پر وفاقي اصولن تي ٻڌل قومن جا حق مڃڻ چاهي ٿي. ان لاءِ نواز ليگ کي آئين ۾ 8 (اٺ) بنيادي ترميمون تجويز ڪرڻ گهرجن، جنهن کانپوءِ ئي سندس ارادن جو پتو پئجي سگهي ٿو.
.نواز ليگ پيپلزپارٽي سان گڏجي آئين مان ڪنڪرنٽ لسٽ ختم ڪري.
.ناڻي جي معاملي تي سيلز ٽيڪس صوبن حوالي ڪرڻ ۽ باقي ٽيڪسز تي ٻڌل پول مان رقم گهڻ رخي فارمولا هيٺ ورهائڻ جو اعلان ڪري آئين ۾ اهڙي ترميم آڻي.
.پاڻي جي مسئلي تي نواز ليگ 1991ع واري غير جمهوري پاڻي ٺاهه کي هڪ پاسي رکي انصاف ۽ قانون تي ٻڌل سنڌ ۽ پنجاب وچ ۾ 1945ع جي پاڻي ٺاهه جي بنياد تي ٺاهه ڪرڻ جو اعلان ڪري.
.پنجاب جي اڪثريتي راڄ کان گارنٽي ڏيڻ لاءِ سڀ آئيني مقرريون توڙي وفاقي ادارن جي سربراهن، هاءِ ڪورٽ ۽ سپريم ڪورٽ جي ججن ۽ سفيرن جون مقرريون سينيٽ جي منظوري سان مشروط ڪيون وڃن. بنيادي قانونسازي پڻ سينيٽ جي اڪثريت سان منظور ڪئي وڃي.
.گئس ۽ تيل جو ڪنٽرول، جيڪو آئين ۾ گڏيل مفادن واري ڪائونسل وٽ آهي، ان جي مسلسل خلاف ورزي ڪري اهو ڪنٽرول صوبن حوالي ڪيو وڃي. آئين ۾ اهڙي ترميم آندي وڃي.
.صوبن ۾ ڌاري آبادي کي روڪڻ ۽ پنهنجي ملازمتن ۾ ٻين صوبن کي ڀاڱي ڀائيوار نه ڪرڻ جو اختيار آئين ۾ ترميم ڪري صوبن حوالي ڪيو وڃي.
.وفاق ۾ هڪ اعليٰ قانوني ڪميشن قائم ڪئي وڃي، جنهن ۾ هر صوبي کي هڪجهڙي نمائندگي هجي، جيڪا مختلف کاتن ۾ صوبن جي نمائندگي کي يقيني بڻائي. ان کي آئين ۾ تحفظ ڏنو وڃي.
.مارشل لا لڳڻ جي صورت ۾ صوبن کي حقِ خود اختياري جو اختيار ڏنو وڃي، جيڪو حق اقوام متحده جي چارٽر جي عين موجب آهي ۽ وفاق ان تي صحيح ڪري چڪو آهي.
.مٿيان اٺ اصول انصاف ۽ قانون تي ٻڌل آهن، ان سان نه رڳو مختلف صوبن جي ماڻهن ۾ فرق ۽ ويڇا ختم ٿيندا، پر وفاق کي هميشه لاءِ مضبوط جمهوري بنيادن تي هلائي سگهجي ٿو. آمريڪا ۾ اڪثريتي راڄ کي ختم ڪرڻ لاءِ سينيٽ بااختيار ۽ جمهوريت کي پهرين اوليت حاصل آهي. تجربي سيکاريو آهي ته جمهوريت خلاف آئين ۾ ڏنل Guarantees پائيدار ثابت نه ٿيون آهن. آئين جي آرٽيڪل 6 تي نه ته نواز ليگ ۽ نه ئي پ پ عمل ڪرائي سگهي آهي، ان ڪري وفاق کي رضاڪارانه بڻائڻ لاءِ ان کي ٺوس بنيادن تي استوار ڪرڻو پوندو.
نواز ليگ پاران سترهين ترميم آڻڻ اقتدار جي خواهش تي ٻڌل آهي، نه ڪي وفاقي ۽ جمهوري اصولن تي. هنن سدائين ڪوشش ڪئي آهي ته پنجاب جي سوشل ڪنزرويٽو ايجنڊا ٻين صوبن تي مڙهي وڃي، جيئن هنن پنهنجي دور ۾ قصاص ۽ ديت آرڊيننس 1990ع ۽ شريعت ايڪٽ 1991ع ۾ رائج ڪيو، يا وري امير المومنين ٿيڻ چاهيو. وفاقي نظام ۾ هڪ صوبو پنهنجي ايجنڊا مذهب جي نالي تي ٻئي تي مڙهي نٿو سگهي. ان لاءِ جنرل ضياءَ پاران آئين ۾ آندل ترميمن کي به ختم ڪرڻ جي ضرورت آهي، باقي اسٽيبلشمينٽ سان ٻٽ ٿيڻ ذريعي نواز ليگ کي اقتدار ته ملي سگهي ٿو، پر ان سان وفاق کي شديد خطرو لاحق آهي، ان ڪري اهڙي هلت کان پاسو ڪيو وڃي ته بهتر ٿيندو.
پيپلز پارٽي، قومي حق ۽ بهتر حڪمراني:
پيپلز پارٽي وٽ سنڌ جي قومي جمهوري حق يعني Self Governance وارو ڪارڊ آهي، جنهن کي استعمال ڪيو پيو وڃي. پيپلزپارٽي جيستائين ان حق کي بهتر حڪمراني ۽ قومي حق حاصل ڪرڻ لاءِ استعمال نه ڪندي، تيستائين سنڌ مان به کين Challenge ملڻ جو خطرو آهي. بهتر حڪمراني ۽ قومي حقن جي ايجنڊا تي سنڌ ۾ نئين قيادت اڀرڻ شروع ٿيندي ۽ جيڪڏهن جمهوري طريقي سان اها پيپلزپارٽي سان چٽا ڀيٽي ڪري به ٿي ته ان ۾ ڪو حرج نه آهي. آئين ۽ قانون جي دائري ۾ پ پ سان چٽا ڀيٽي ڪرڻ ۾ ڪو حرج نه آهي، پر پ پ سرڪار جي جمهوري حق ۽ حقِ حڪمراني کي نه مڃڻ بدنيتي آهي. بدنيتي تي سياست ڪجهه وقت ته هلي سگهي ٿي، پر گهڻي عرصي لاءِ نه، بهتر حڪمراني ۽ قومي حقن تي ٻڌل سنڌ ۾ جيڪڏهن پيپلز پارٽي کي ڪا به مزاحمت ملي ٿي ته ان کي هروڀرو پ پ به برو نه سمجهندي، ڇو ته سياست ڪرڻ هر پارٽي ۽ ماڻهو جو حق آهي. پر ان چٽي ايجنڊا جي بنياد تي صوبن تي پنجاب جو اڪثريتي راڄ مڙهڻ لاءِ گڏجاڻين ۽ ملاقاتن ۾ وڃڻ جو جمهوري حق محفوظ رکجي ٿو. هينئر سنڌ کي وڏيرن ۽ اسٽيبلشمينٽ ٻنهي جي مخالفت ۾ سنڌ ايجنڊا تشڪيل ڏئي پنهنجي مڊل ۽ ووڪل ڪلاس تي مشتمل قيادت کي اڳتي آڻڻو پوندو،
اي نه مارن ريت، جو سيڻ مٽائين سون تي!
barrister-zamir@hotmail.com

Courtesy: Sindhi Daily Kawish.

What Chater of Democracy says;

by Manzoor Chandio, Karachi, Sindh
The writer works in daily dawn, Karachi and he can be reached at catalyst2pk@yahoo.com
Blog: http://manzoorchandio.blogspot.com/
..Chauvinists with the religious obscurantists is not new phenomenon for Sindhis. From the Pakistan Resolution (1940 Resolution) to the Charter of Democracy, they have routinely flouted making Pakistan a constitutional democracy.
They have always cheated the Sindh, killed Sindhi leaders and looted the resources.. in the name of Pakistan and Islam. The Pakistan Resolution envisaged “sovereign” and “autonomous” states in Pakistan. Sixty years on, we have yet to see “sovereign” and “autonomous” Sindh. How the .. PML-N chauvinists .. recently threw the Charter of Democracy into a dustbin and started blackmailing the PPP government.

Road to Riches for Sindhis

By: Ali Nawaz Memon

We have been fighting for FAIRNESS IN FEDERATION of Pakistan. It means that we Sindhis have been asking for our share of riches or wealth of Pakistan. Of course no body listens to us. When I raised that question again during a seminar last weekend in Washington, I annoyed many non-Sindhi friends. They saw it as Punjabi and Muhajir bashing.

We must continue our struggle to make Sindh and Sindhis prosperous through political and collective means. However, personal struggle is the key for success. If we want to be rich, we must become familiar with ROAD TO RICHES.

As a practitioner of economic development, when I look around, I see many rich people. Who is rich? From point of view of Sindhis or average Pakistanis, some one who has assets of about one million dollars, is plenty rich. It does not mean that some one has a million dollars in bank account. It means that value of his home, cars, other investments is about one million dollars.

How did average American get rich, that is a long story. Let us focus on relatively rich Sindhis only in USA and Sindh.

Some are born rich. They inherit lands and business from family. Some have become rich through corrupt means of bribery and dishonesty. But let us focus on self made people who have traveled honest and hard road to riches.

I think blessing of Creator has to be there. After that, I see following characteristics of relatively rich friends:

1. They were good students in schools and colleges. If you are not a good student today, you have to start studying harder and become a better student. You can improve yourself any time.

2. They chose professions which had demand in the society– doctor, engineer, accountant, banker, business etc. People must need your expertise and service. They must be willing to pay for your service. You cannot become rich if your education and expertise is not in demand.

3. Not only they got degrees, but they learned and mastered their subjects. Every person with medical degree does not become rich. But if you have studied enough and become a good doctor, you have a good chance of success.

4. They entered professional field. Being competent and good in their field, they got jobs and learned more on jobs.

5. They struggled and got advanced degrees or education in Pakistan or abroad. Foreign education was not essential but helped a lot since they got higher and more specialized education. Many good professionals have become rich enough with pure Pakistani education.

6. They saved some money every month and invested it for purchase of home, land, business etc. The savings and additional income that it generates is very important towards becoming rich. As an example, a deposit of one lakh rupees in a Pakistani bank can get you about one thousand rupees per month for rest of your life.