WORLD SINDHI CONGRES S 22 Newfields, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL8 UK – USA – Canada 6YT , UK . Phone (UK) +44 (01707) 896526 Phone (USA) +1 - 818 - 917 - 6910 http://www.worldsindhicongress.org Press Release Contact: Ali Memon [email protected] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 03 November 2015

To Secure Regional and Global Peace International Community Need to Stop Spread of Extremism and Terrorism and Human Rights Violations of Sindhi People Perpetrated by

World Sindhi Congress (WSC) held its 27 th annual international conference o n 31 st October 2015 at Kingsl e y Hall , London. This year’s topic was “Roots of Terr orism and Extremism in Pakistan and the Human Rights Situation of Oppressed N ations ” . The speakers, guests and WSC members from UK, , Pakistan, India, USA, UAE, France, Spain and Sweden participated in the conference .

Conference consisted of 3 sessions along with a session for the launching of book en titled “Politics of Cha nge: Bitter Realties and Hard C hoices” written by, Abdul Khalique Junejo, Chairman Je ay Sindh Maha z . Conference was opened by and Conference Chair, Farhan Kaghzi , who welcomed the guests and introduced the theme and purpose of the conference .

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The first session of the conference was moderated by Mr. Gul Sanai and the panelists included: Ms Noor un Nisa Ghang h ro , G eneral S ecretary Sindhi Association of North America (SANA), Mir Salami Sanai Chairman Sindhi Sangat Middle East, Dr. Humera Soomro of International Sindhi Women Organisation (ISWO) and Mr Nisar Gilal of Sindhi Sangat UK and Mr. Prem Matlan i , an intellectual and writer from India. Speakers of the session were of the view that Sindh i people need to have a fresh look at their strategies to come out of the current difficult situation. The spread of extremism and terrorism is a serious problem f or the fabric of secular Sindhi society and Pakistani agencies are responsible for it. The speakers also reiterated that a close coordination amongst Sindhi diaspora is the need of the time.

During the book launch session, besides author Abdul Khalique J unejo, writer and intellectual from Awami Jamhoori Party (AJP), Amanullah Shaikh and French researcher Julian Levesque spoke about the contents of the book . Mr. Junejo said “my book covers both international and national issues like Sindhi national struggl e and issues related to extremism and their impact on Sindhi society”.

T he second session was moderated by Dr Hidayat Bhutto and speakers included: Hamal Hyyder Baloch, International Representative of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), Amanullah Shaik h of the Awami Jamhori Party (AJP) , Julian Levesque French researcher, Dr Safdar Sarki, Chairman Jeay Sindh Tehrik, Baldev Matlani a writer, intellectual and retired Professor of Sindhi at the University of Mumbai, India and Umar Daraz Khan a Pakistani int ellectual and writer based in the UK. Julian Levesque talked about the sufi movement in Sindh. Mr Levesque said “ are Sufi by nature and Sufism i s a marker of identity in Sindh ”. Mr Shaikh in his paper “Political Scenario, the Trends of T errorism, and the H uman Rights Situation in Pakistan ” said “t he current situation of terrorism has jolted the entire globe and the west should come forward to help countries in reducing poverty, agony and give preference to 3

education and health. ” Hamal Hyder Baloch talked about the human rights situation of Balochistan . Mr Baloch informed the audience that the forced abductions and killing of Baloch people have intensifies and military operation has become more severe in recent months . Mr Umar Daraz elaborated that Pakistani establishment is behind the spread of religious extremism in Pakistan. Professor Baldev Matlani said that the spread of extremism is Sindh needs to be contained else it will bring a havoc for Sindhi people. Dr Safdar Sarki said that the multibil lion Pak China Economic Corridor is a project to strangle Sindhi and Baloch nations and irreversibly establish dominance of China on entire Asia. He said that all the problems of Sindhi people are systematically created by Pakistan and its agencies and the only solution is to come out of the slavery. The overall view of the session was that m ore education , political awareness and activism are necessary to challenge increasing terrorism and extremism facing Sindh and other oppressed nations in Pakistan . The speakers held Pakistan state responsible for the trials and tribulations of Sindhi people.

The third session was moderated by Dr Rubina Shaikh and the speakers included: Ram Jethmalani, a former Union Minster of Law in India, Mr Bob Blackman, Member UK Parliament, Ms Kathyrn Comeron Porter , a USA Presidential Appointee and non - profit executive, Abdul Khalique Junejo, Chairman Jeay Sindh Mahaz, Dr. Ayesh Siddiqua , a researcher and analyst on extremism and terrorism and Pakistan mi litary.

Mr Ram Jethmalani dwel t at length and said in Sindh has been one of the secular place on earth before Pakistan. He said that one reason for the difference in the behavior of India and Pakistan is that Indian state is secular while Pakistan state is religious. Mr Junejo said “that the inclusion of the Objective R esolution of 1949 in the constitution of Pakistan provided the basis for the religious extremism in Pakistan ”. This has been encouraged an d supported by both the military and civilian rulers of Pakistan. Dr Ayesha Siddiqa discussed the presence and role of sufi movement in Sindh saying that today the Sufis of the yesterday have become big Pirs and feudal lords . She als o said the Devbandi I slam has remained present in Sindh in the past which has now turned into extremism . Mr Bob Blackman said that we are aware and concerned about the rise of extremism and terrorism and are will raise the issues of human rights violation s of Sindhi people in the UK parliament. Ms Kathryn Cameron Porter said that 4

suffering of Sindhi people is heart wrenching and it is duty of the international community to help them. She also reiterated that for the Sindhi people’s rights movement the role and participation of women need to be increased.

At the end of the session, Chairman World Sindh Congress, Dr Lakhu Luhana, concluded the proceedings of the conference. He said that forces that are responsible for spread of extremism and terrorism are a lso the forces that grossly abuse human rights of Sindhi and other oppressed nations in Pakistan. He warned that the spreading extremism and terrorism has death and destruction potential greater than the Second World War. The international powers have to l ook into the options for long term peace for the humanity instead of short term goals. The only way to effectively challenge Pakistan’s policies of spreading and supporting extremism and terrorism and destabilizing regional and global peace is to support t he struggles of Sindhis and other oppressed nations of Pakistan.

At the end of the conference resolutions were presented before the House on issues of Pakistan’s role in spreading terrorism and extremism and demanding to immediately stop committing gross human rights violations of Sindhi and Baloch people, which were passed with some amendments.

About The (WSC): WSC is based in the UK, USA, Canada, and Sindh and is one of the most prominent human rights advocacy organizations for Sindh and Sindhis. The main objective of WSC is to create a better understanding within the international community about the persecuted status of Sindhis in Pakistan and about the Sindhi people’s struggle for human rights, including the right to self - dete rmination. WSC is a registered company in the UK and the USA, and is organized to carry out non - profit activities. For more information, visit www.worldsindhicong ress.org