HYDERABAD, March 21: Political leaders, writers and intellectuals have condemned what they called the killing of innocent people in Balochistan and demanded an end to army operation in the province. They were speaking at a function held to mark the 62nd death anniversary of Pir Pagaro VI Sibghatullah Shah Rashidi, popularly known as Sooriah Badshah.

The function was organized by the Sindh National Party here on Monday where speakers paid tribute to the Pir for sacrificing his life in the freedom struggle against the British colonial rule.

Speaking on the occasion, SNP chairman Ameer Bhambhro said that Sooriah Badshah was a national hero and called upon the Sindhi nation to emulate him as Sindh was faced with similar situation today.

He said that the Pakistan of Mohammad Ali Jinnah had disintegrated and the smaller nations had been deprived of autonomy and sovereignty. He urged the Sindhi nation to unite on one platform for their emancipation and accused a particular province of trying to enslave the smaller nations by usurping their resources.

He condemned killing of innocent people in Balochistan and the projects of the Kalabagh dam and Greater Thal canal.

Other speakers included Javed Qazi of the Sindh Civil Society, Sindh National Front leader Ayub Shar, Ayaz Latif Palijo, Asif Baladi, Professor Qalandar Shah Lakiari and Dilshad Bhutto.

The gathering adopted several resolutions, demanding an end to army operation in Balochistan, implementation of 1940’s Pakistan Resolution, announcement of public holiday on March 20, appointment of a tribunal to find out the grave of Sooriah Badshah, abandoning of the Kalabagh dam and Greater Thal canal projects, distribution of water according to 1945 agreement and release of political prisoners.

PALIJO: Chief of Awami Tehrik Rasool Bux Palijo has expressed concern over the alarming situation in Balochistan and said that it is a natural outcome of short-sighted and self-serving policies of the federal government.

In a statement issued here on Monday, he said that the people of Balochistan were justified in opposing the Gwadar port project and establishment of cantonments in the province.

He said that Balochistan already had a large number of Afghan immigrants and further influx of outsiders would turn its indigenous population into a minority in their homeland.

Criticising the civil and military establishment, he said that the state was killing its own citizens in Wana and Balochistan. On the other hand, slow death was being planned for the people of Sindh by robbing them of their share of water, he added.