HYDERABAD: Jeay Sindh Mahaz-Khaliq (JSM-K) celebrated ‘golden jubilee’ of the abolition of One Unit at the local press club on Thursday.

Chairing the programme, JSM-K chairman Abdul Khaliq Junejo described the day as an important occasion in the 73-year history of Pakistan as it had restored “remainder of identity of Sindh”.

He said that at that time a clear line was drawn between pro- and anti-Sindh forces though numerically it was not a big movement. He said people termed G.M. Syed and Hyder Bux Jatoi patriots and Khuhro and Rashdi traitors.

He said that no jagirdar or wadera was part of the movement. He recalled that Sindh was faced with a threat of new colonialism in the name of development. Sindh’s land was being “occupied”, he said.

He observed that now mega housing schemes had become a symbol of “occupation” of Sindh’s land and that was why they were the main target in the ongoing protests.

Mr Junejo said that PPP must be beholden to Sindhi people because when Sindh Assembly was restored, the party had formed government. “The Constitution which negates Sindhis as a nation was thrust over them later,” he remarked.

Awami Workers Party general secretary Comrade Bukhshal Thallo said that Pakistan was replete with conflicts. “Pakistan is a question for nations, rather there is a question of nations in this country,” he said, adding that Sindhis’ voice could be suppressed temporarily but it could not be done away with.

Amanullah Sheikh, who was part of the anti-One Unit movement, said that unity of nations always led to victory. He said the underprivileged class had first challenged One Unit which was led by G.M. Syed. He said that Sindhi nation had been deceived in the name of “Roti, Kapra aur Makan.”

Some resolutions were also adopted at the programme. One of them demanded an end to mega housing projects in Karachi. It also rejected Zulfikarabad, Thar coal and other mega projects as “new colonialism”.

Another resolution urged that Pakistan be declared a multination state in line with the 1940 Resolution and each federating unit be sovereign and autonomous.

It demanded that Sindhis’ right to self-determination be accepted; right of Sindhi people over their resources be accepted; settlement of “outsiders” in Sindh be put to an end; and illegal immigrants, including Afghans, be repatriated to their home countries.

The participants stressed that those coming to Sindh from other countries should not be given the right to vote or own property. They opposed any new water project over Indus River and said water should be distributed in line with 1945 pact between Punjab and Sindh.

They called for a judicious distribution of water within Sindh and registration of water theft cases against ministers and feudal lords.

They demanded that Sindhi be declared the province’s official language and be taught at government and private schools.

They also called for an end to “enforced disappearances”.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2021