OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE WORLD SINDHI CONGRESS The Sindh Perchar S UMMER 2002 V OLUME 11, I SSUE 1 SUGGESTED DONATION: $3.0/ £ 1.0 Military Assumes Permanent Role in Governance of Pakistan Is Pakistan an Ally in War London, July 2002, General Musharaf—the self imposed President of Pakistan— Against Terrorism? recently announced a set of ‘constitutional amendments’ legitimizing his military Editorial Desk, 2002 dictatorship. These amendments guarantee a permanent and dominant role for Pakistan is considered as an important military in all future governments in Pakistan. These new changes grant President ally in the current international coali- (Gen Musharaf) the power to dissolve Parliament and dismiss the prime minister in tion against terrorism. Looking back any future elected government. A ‘National Security Council’ having powers to on Pakistan’s involvement in terrorism sack the cabinet and dissolve parliament will be formed. It will also oversee the itself, inside and outside its borders, (Continued on page 8) make Pakistan a ‘shaky ally.’ All wars are to be opposed. Though on rational basis, we see that the ter- Sindhis Protest Over Thal Canal rorism is needed to be dealt with ap- Calling it an Economic and Ecological Disaster propriate resistance. World does not need any more of Sept 11 incidents. London, March, 2002 , A big rally was cluded a delegation of MQM headed by However, that at this time, while organized in front of Pakistan High Saleem Shehzad, Balach Marri (son of preaching for peace, we must also ana- Commission, London on the call of Dr Sardar Khair Bux Marri) of Baloach lyze on the policies and situations Safdar Sarki, the chairman of WSC on Voice, Sussi Palijo of Sindhi Awami (Continued on page 2) March 23, 2002 to protest against the Tahreek, Jiji Zarina Baloach and George construction of Thal canal, economic Anthony of Liberation, Kurdish De- exploiting policies against Sindh, and mocratic Party (KDP) and many UK INSIDE THIS ISSUE: other on-going human rights abuses of based intellectuals, writers and journal- Sindhi people by the Government of ists. The participants raised the slogans WSC Activities 3 Pakistan. The rally was attended widely against the highhandedness of Punjab, by the Sindhis and Sindhi Diaspora who injustices to Sindh, Thal canal unfair Should Pakistan be Broken Up? 5 came from various corners of the UK. distribution of waters, human right vio- Among others who participated in- (Continued on page 4) Sindhis Around the World 7 Conference on Sindh in London 9 Cyber Sindh 10 P residential Referen- dum: A "Big Sham" London, May 2002, The recent Presi- dential Referendum by the General Musharaf, an army dictator in Paki- stan and world’s silence and accep- Activists gathered in front of Pak High Commission in London to (Continued on page 4) protest against the Construction of Thal Canal P AGE 2 V OLUME 10,I SSUE 2 (Continued from page 1 - Is Pakistan an Ally?) war strategy with India and create true democratic struc- which brought us to this war? What are the mistakes done tures in Pakistan. Because the very survival of this by the world community in the past -- which terrorists ex- 'corporation' is the continuation of the war. Pakistani Mili- ploited to propagate hate and justify the killing. What tary is the truly omnipotent force with in the country. should USA, the main victim of this terrorism and a leader Today they side with US, but we believe that that it is just of the coalition on 'war against terrorism' and it allies there one more tactic to survive and flourish! Pakistan's ma- (mainly UK) should do so that this cycle of terrorism stops jor problem like several other post- colonial states is the and the long-lasting peace can prevail. multi-ethnic imbalance, Pakistan's oppressed nations that is Sindhis living in UK, USA, India, and Sindhis and Balochs mainly as well as Seraikis Sindh have expressed their solidarity with and Pathan to greater extent are being eco- the people of United States and have Pakistan's major problem nomically, politically and culturally subjugated prayed for the victims of this unprece- by dominant ethnic group Punjab. The Paki- dented terrorism. like several other post- stani military is mainly dominated by the Punja- People of Sindh- who have been them- colonial states is the bis. selves the victim of the religious funda- It is very sad that since last few dec- mentalism and ethnic discrimination, are multi-ethnic imbalance. ades Sindhis and progressive forces within actually very contended with the fact that Pakistan have been crying and protesting the Talibanization of the their region may against the religious fundamentalism and op- finally be stopped. However, the current gesture of friendli- pression against smaller nations, religious minorities and ness and support to the military dictatorship in Pakistan has women. Most of these protest were ignored, but there was created the fear that this situation of terror and oppression still some hope. USA and UK had some limited trade em- may very well be with us in Pakistan. bargo on Pakistan for pursuing nuclear power. EU con- It is indeed true so far Pakistan's government has been demned the military dictatorship and so on. But, now sud- performing as an ally in the coalition against terrorism, but denly Pakistan and it fascist regime is being rewarded with we believe that the sole reliance on Mr. Mushraf, who is a the billions of the dollars and UK and USA and other coun- self-imposed President of Pakistan, would be very short- tries like Japan are pouring money to Pakistan Military gov- lived and may actually be counter-productive. Pakistan's ernment. Even now, the progressive forces with in Pakistan current government is actually a dictatorship and it is no are not getting adequate attention in western media too. For secret, that Pakistan has long been involved in the training, example several Sindh and Balochistan based parties and sheltering and arming the extremists groups. The US State groups have openly supported the war against terrorism but Department's annual report on Patterns of Global terrorism we hardly see any coverage of these elements in western during 2000 released in April 2001 clearly states Govern- media. While in the last few weeks government has impris- ment of Pakistan's increasing support to the Taliban by pro- oned Sindhi freedom leaders. viding them material, We believe fuel, funding, technical that the USA and assistance and military UK must offer a only advisers. These policies conditional support of extremism have not to Pakistan (if at all). only harmed the peo- And in this support ples of Pakistan and they must adhere to neighboring countries the basic principles but have now reached of democracy, justice, to harm the people human rights and around the globe. religious tolerance. The military estab- The influx of Af- lishment of Pakistan ghan refugees is cre- thrives on the politics ating a tremendous and economics of the threat to the Sindh religious nationalism. and Baluchistan. Pakistan's military How these two re- works as a corporation. gions will support It also has strong pock- this migration not ets who believe in Pan- only the human mi- Islamicism. Considering WSC and Baloch Voice Jointly Organized a Seminar in London—Speakers gration but migration these two realities, it is of drugs, weapons included Sardar Attaullah Mengal of Pakistan Oppressed Nation’s Move- unlikely that Pakistan and topmost religious ment, Dr. Rubina Shaikh of WSC, Mr. Balach Marri of Baloch Voice, and military would shun the (Continued on page 4) Anothy George of Liberation T HE SINDH PERCHAR P AGE 3 WSC ACTIVITIES WSC Commemorates the Birth Anniversary WSC Speaks for Plight of Sindhis at UN Human of Saeen G. M. Syed in Houston , Texas Rights Session Houston, TX, March 2002, WSC organized a gathering on Geneva, March 2002, The delegation of WSC, led by Ambreen March 2nd, 2002 in Houston, Texas (USA) to com- Hisbani, participated in the 58th Session of UN Commission memorate the 99th birth anniversary of Saeen G. M. on Human Rights currently held in Geneva (March 18 -April Syed. G. M. Syed was a visionary of modern Sindh. He 26, 2002). During her visit to Geneva, Ms. Hisbani met vari- pioneered the Sindhi freedom movement and also ous UN officials, representatives of nongovernmental organi- served as the chairman of the WSC during 1994-95. zations, and delegates of several countries participating the Over three decades, Saeen G. M. Syed was repeatedly (Continued on page 8) detained in various Pakistani prisons without trial until his death in 1995. The Amnesty International adopted him as a Prisoner of Conscience. Mr. Syed extensively wrote on Sindhi identity, Sindhi religious thoughts, and WSC to Hold its Annual Meeting in political situations in Sindh. September in London—New Execu- This meeting was attended by Dr. Safdar Sarki, tive Committee will be Elected Chairman WSC, Mr. Umed Laghari, Sr. Vice Chairman, WSC, Mr. Suhail Memon, leader of JSQM, and several London, July 2002, The World Sindhi Congress (WSC) other local activists from Texas. Mr. Suhail Memon, announced to organize its Annual General Body Meeting who is a writer of three books on Syed, said that current (AGM) for the year 2002 in September in London. This Pakistani setup does not provide any consolation of meeting is to be held on Saturday, September 21st, 2002, Sindhi people. He elaborated on the long campaign of at Sindhi Center, 230A Kenton Road, Harrow, Middle- JSQM and other parties on national and environmental sex HA3 8BY, London, UK. rights issues. Dr. Sarki, in his speech stated that G.