Press Release

WSC demands an Immediate Stop to Punjab's Highhandedness on Sind's Water

London, UK, Saturday, 10 July 2010

World Sindhi Congress (WSC) strongly condemns the open and naked highhandedness of Punjab with regards to water of river Indus.

Despite, calls from three provincial assemblies, the members of water body IRSA, political and civil society organisations, thousands of demonstrations, strikes, hunger strikes of Sindhi people, Punjab's jingoists are determined to overrun the overwhelming case of Sindh over waters of river Indus.

The case of Sindh over water has been proven again and again on the basis of international law, historical rights and the water treatise, still Punjab is adamant to carry out its illegal domination and use of waters of river Indus. The current crisis has resulted from allowing illegally water to flow in Chashma-Jehlam Link Canal and Thal canal for irrigation, while people of Sindh do not have water to drink. Punjab has stored water in Mangla Dam for autumn cultivation while Sindh's fertile lands are fast becoming a lifeless desert. The man-made water crisis is threatening the extinction of a civilisation that flourished for thousands of years. The current arrogant chauvinism of Punjab has taken the conflict and crisis to a new height. The entire Sindh is burning.

WSC humbly requests all the political parties of Sindh, NGOs, and civil society organisations to take a united stand, leaving all differences behind, on this issue of bare survival. They will find WSC behind them at each step.

WSC has decided to take the genuine case of people of Sindh for their survival against the criminal onslaught of Punjab on their rightful waters to all relevant international venues including United Nations, UNPFII (United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues) and Environmental and Water NGOs. WSC is also seriously exploring all the possibilities to take this case to the International Court of Justice in Hague, The Netherland.

Source: http://www.worldsindhicongress.org/

WSC demands the restoration of historical and geographical position of Hyderabad and Karachi

Monday, 17 May 2010

WSC demands the restoration of historical and geographical position of Hyderabad and Karachi were hatched under the patronage of military dictator Musharaf to serve the narrow racial interests of MQM.

The conspiracy is a part of design to alienate Sindhi people from their urban centres, stop the natural growth of Sindhi middle class and impose racist forces in unchallenged power in these areas.

All the genuine Sindhi parties demanded and vehemently opposed against the division ofHyderabad into four districts and the amalgamation and assimilation of five districts ofKarachi in to one-party metropolis. Under the new racist set ups the Sindhi people ofHyderabad and Karachi have been subjected to systematic apartheid in every sphere of social development. It appears that MQM is bent to keep this anti-Sindhi set up by hook or crook.

Sindhi people voted Peoples Party due to the martyrdom of Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto with the hope that they will bring some relief from ten-year Musharaf era. On the contrary, their cowardice vacillating attitude on issues of critical importance for Sindhi people is generating demoralisation and hopelessness. WSC demands from Peoples Party that the position ofHyderabad and Karachi prior to Musharaf era should immediately be restored, if they do not want to go down in the history of Sindh as traitors.

WSC has requested the saner elements of Urdu speaking community to come forward against the narrow-ethnic racist policies of MQM that will bring deep division and bitterness in Sindh.

WSC requests all the Sindhi parties to sit together on this and other issues of serious concern to Sindhi people to work out a strategy and course of action to stop the continuity of evil designs that would put the historical existence of Sindhi nation in peril.

Source: http://www.worldsindhicongress.org/

WSC demands right to self determination of Sindhi people at the 13 session of UNHRC Geneva

Saturday, 13 March 2010

A delegation of World Sindhi Congress (WSC) participated in the 13th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. The session is being held from 2nd to 26th March 2010.
London, UK, 14 March 2010

A delegation of World Sindhi Congress (WSC) participated in the 13th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. The session is being held from 2nd to 26th March 2010.

Interfaith International, a United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) accredited NGO, provided an opportunity for a briefing to WSC on 11th March to deliberate on the gross human rights violations against Sindhi and Baloch people. The briefing was attended by the representatives of UNHRC, European Union, representatives of a number of countries and various human rights organisations.

Speaking at the briefing, Dr Haleem Bhatti Chairman of WSC, said that Sindh is an ancient civilisation of secular people. Sindh contributes more than 70% of the budget of Pakistan and is the largest producer of oil and gas. He reiterated that Pakistan establishment is committing worst human rights violations against Sindhi people. Sindh’s ancient historical icons are being systematically destroyed, education in Sindhi language is being withdrawn, law and order situation is deliberately being made dangerous to curb the social development of Sindhi people. He said that dams and canals on mighty Indus River have resulted in destruction of Sindh’s agricultural system and habitats. He mentioned that hundreds of Sindhi political activists have been kidnapped, tortured and even killed in the struggle to save the rights of Sindhi people. He mentioned that recently senior Vice Chair of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz has been kidnapped and requested international community to press up on Pakistan government to release him. He demanded that Sindhi nation should be allowed to exercise its right to self determination, as only this can resolve the issue of the suffering of Sindhi nation. He requested the international community to stop providing aid to Pakistan.

Dr Lakhu Luhana, Secretary General WSC, said that Pakistani establishment from day one has denied every right mentioned in the charter of human rights to Sindhi people. The cumulative impacts of denial of basic human rights to Sindhi people have resulted in alarming and very sad manifestation. Poverty, disease, unemployment and illiteracy are endemic. An ancient, secular and rich nation is being suffocated to extinct. He said that Sindhi people in their own motherland are being subjected to worst apartheid. Sindhi people can not study in its capital Karachi and are not eligible to apply and get jobs there. He said that these manifestations are only symptoms of a fundamental problem, the right of Sindhi nation to their motherland, resources, fate and history, the denial of the right to self determination.

Dr Hidayat Bhutto, WSC UK Europe Organiser, replied to a comment from MQM who said that nobody knows WSC in Sindh while MQM has support of millions. Dr Bhutto reminded that Saeen GM Syed remained as the life-long Chairman of WSC until his death. One of its Senior Vice Chair, Yousif Jakhrani, was tortured to death by military and Dr Safdar Sarki, ex-Chairman was tortured for more than two years. Sindhi people know that WSC is upholding their cause internationally. He said that ISI have B and C teams indicating that we believe that MQM is a B team of ISI

On 12th March WSC participated in a demonstration organised by Baloch human rights activists to protest against the gross human rights violations committed by Pakistan in Balochistan.

The WSC delegation met with a number of international human rights NGOs and informed them about the plight of Sindhi people. WSC delegation also requested for their support in release of kidnapped political activists including Akash Mallah.

Source: http://www.worldsindhicongress.org/

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