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HYDERABAD, Jan 16: Under the aegis of the Sindhi Qaumi Ittehad, a large number of people on Monday staged protest rallies in Hyderabad and some towns of interior of Sindh against the army operation in Balochistan, proposed construction of Kalabagh and other dams on the River Indus and arrests of workers of nationalist parties.
Leaders of the Ittehad criticized the government for launching operations in Balochistan and Wana and insisting on building the Kalabagh dam.
They vowed to continue the struggle till the objectives were achieved.
In Hyderabad, hundreds of activists of parties affiliated with the Ittehad marched from the old campus of the University of Sindh to the press club while raising slogans against what they called anti-Sindh water projects and the Balochistan operation. They blocked the press club road for over two hours.
The coordinator of the Ittehad and chairman of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, Bashir Qureshi, blamed Punjab for the Balochistan operation, saying it wanted to take over natural resources of Balochistan.
Expressing solidarity of Sindhis with the people of Balochistan, he warned the government that contentious issues could not be resolved through use of force.
He said the rulers were repeating the mistake they had committed in East Pakistan.
Condemning arrests of workers of nationalist parties, Mr Qureshi said many workers were being held incommunicado. He demanded that they should be produced in courts if they were wanted in some cases.
Sindh National Front secretary-general Gul Mohammad Jakhrani said the oppressed nations were united on one platform for their rights.
Sindh National Council leader Hussain Bux Thebo called upon the people of Sindh to differentiate between true sons of the soil and traitors.
Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party general secretary Dr Hameed Memon said the only crime of Balochistan was that its people were demanding their rights.
The Qaumi Ittehad also issued a joint declaration expressing solidarity with the people of Balochistan.
The declaration demanded immediate end to the operation in Balochistan, shelving of water projects on the Indus and release of arrested workers of nationalist parties in Sindh and Balochistan.
TANDO MOHAMMAD KHAN:ivists of the Ittehad staged a rally and a sit-in on the Hyderabad road.
JSQM leaders Mohammad Ibrahim Soomro, Niaz Hussain Khaskheli and Ali Hassan Bhatti and SNC leaders Ikram Soomro and Hakim Ali Halepoto condemned the Balochistan operation.
They said the people of Sindh would not accept construction of any dam on the Indus.
Activists of the Pakistan People’s Party-SB staged a separate rally against the operation in Balochistan, Kalabagh dam and the greater Thal canal and for rehabilitation of people affected by the Liyari express project.
DADU: r 200 activists of the JSQM, JSM, SNF and the PPP-SB took out a procession here. They marched on main roads of the town and held a demonstration outside the press club.
They said the Balochistan operation and the proposed construction of the Kalabagh dam had put the integrity of the country at stake.
Later, they observed a token hunger strike.
Activists of the Awami Tehrik and growers held a demonstration in Johi.
SHIKARPUR: Activists of the JSQM, STPP, JSM-Z and other parties took out a procession from Qafila Qila which terminated at the Lakhi Gate tower chowk.
NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: Activists of affiliated parties of the Ittehad took out protest processions and staged sit-ins in Naushahro Feroze, Moro, Tharushah, Mithiani.
They urged the government to honour resolutions of three provincial assemblies on the Kalabagh dam issue.
KHAIRPUR: A procession of activists of the Qaumi Ittehad after marching through main roads of the town reached the Panj Gulla chowk.
JACOBABAD: Activists of the Ittehad took out a procession from Family Line and after marching through different roads reached the press club where they staged a sit-in and blocked the road.
BADIN: More than 450 activists of parties affiliated with the Qaumi Ittehad marched from the Mehran chowk to the Shah Latif road. They blocked the road for over one hour by staging a sit-in.
They accused the government of creating anarchy in the country.
Activists of the Sindh People’s Students Federation-SB also took out a procession in the city.
MIRPURKHAS: A procession was taken out from the Railway station chowk by activists of the JSQM, STPP and other parties.
The protesters, led by District Bar Association president Ali Hassan Chandio, held a demonstration outside the press club after marching through main roads.
