HYDERABAD, Dec 29: Qadir Bux Jatoi, a nationalist leader who has recently returned to Sindh after remaining in exile for 28 years, has said that no one likes imprisonment or exile and added that the circumstances compelled him to go into exile.

Speaking at a reception hosted by the Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party here on Monday, he said that he had paid his debt by going to jail and added that exile was worse than imprisonment. He said that he was proud that even in exile, he had worked for the cause of Sindh.

“I find a visible change in the thinking of Sindhi people as they have now started thinking about Sindh”, Mr Jatoi said. He called upon the nationalist leadership to take the Sindhi people along with them, saying that were ready for struggle.

Speaking on the occasion, STP chairman Dr Qadir Magsi paid tribute to Mr Jatoi for his services in the cause of Sindh and said that even in exile, he had continued to work for the cause of Sindh. He said that Mr Jatoi was one of those people who dreamt of changing the destiny of their nations while in exile.

Mr Magsi stressed the need for changing political culture and said that the sincere political workers must go to every nook and corner of the province and awaken the people without which success was impossible. Writers and intellectuals of Sindh would also have to change their attitude and guide the Sindhi people, Mr Magsi said.

He said that the people of Sindh wanted change as they were fed up with the leadership of feudal elements who were incapable of solving their problems.

He said that no one had the power to subjugate 50 million people of Sindh and added that its youths were prepared to render sacrifices for the cause of Sindh.

Ibrahim Joyo said that Sindhi people had awakened and they were ready for change. He, however, said that the situation would remain the same unless the political parties directly went to the people and remained in constant touch with them.

The Pakistan People’s Party only went to the people to seek votes but it did nothing to change the system after coming into power, Mr Joyo said.

Nazeer Memon, Dr Khalil Qazi, Hyder Shahani, Mahesh Kumar, Ali Hassan Chandio and others also spoke on the occasion. Mr Jatoi was garlanded and presented the traditional gift of Ajrak.