DADU: A number of programmes were held in Sann, the native town of veteran Sindhi nationalist leader G.M. Syed, to celebrate his 112th birth anniversary on Sunday.

Several thousand people arriving in Sann from all parts of the province and outside attended the programmes organised by the Sindh United Party, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) and more than a dozen smaller nationalist parties and groups, including proscribed Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM) and some other groups seeking independence or full autonomy for Sindh.

The groups included JSQM-Arisar faction, Jeay Sindh Mahaz (JSM), Jeay Sindh Tehreek (JST) Sarki and Karnani factions and Jeay Sindh Qaum-parast Party (JSQP).

The entire town wore a festive look with colourful buntings and flags. Activists and supporters of host parties and groups were seen entering the town singing, dancing and raising the slogans of ‘Jeay Sindh’ and ‘Jeay Saen G.M. Syed’. Those associated with separatist groups were also raising slogans like ‘Sindhu Desh muqaddar Aa’ (Sindh Desh ultimate destiny).

The main function was organised by the SUP, led by Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah, one of Syed’s grandsons, at the family bungalow where a big cake was cut by family members and party leaders. The bungalow and a large open space outside remained packed with participants in the ceremony from dawn to dusk.

Speaking to them, the SUP chief highlighted Syed’s political acumen, his life-long struggle for the rights of Sindh and its people and his contribution to the recognition, welfare and uplift of Sindhis as a nation.

Mr Shah described Syed as ‘the man of principle’ who never bowed to oppressors and dictators in his struggle for the rights of Sindh and Sindhis. He said the great leader always preached peace and love and encouraged his followers to get maximum possible education so that society could transform itself into a civilised one. He said Syed waged a peaceful but vigorous struggle that earned him massive following and great respect.

The SUP leader severely criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party and its government for pursuing a policy that only caused miseries and crises. It could not even ensure basic amenities for the people of Sindh despite repeatedly being voted to power, he observed. Its policies aggravated the unemployment situation to the extent that youths started committing suicide after failing to meet both ends meet, he claimed.

He regretted that Sindh was facing poverty and unemployment despite being rich in resources, producing oil and gas and generating 80 per cent revenues of the country. In this context, he noted that skilled and unskilled Sindhi youths were denied jobs in the multinational companies exploring oil, gas, coal and other natural resources in different districts of the province. The investments and funding made in Sindh and the profits gained through the projects are syphoned off to Islamabad and other provinces, he alleged.

“Sindh is neglected in all sectors and its people are denied even basic amenities,” he said, adding that Sindh’s share in water and revenues was not being fairly provided in order to keep it backward.

Mr Shah also alleged massive corruption in the province due to which, according to him, performance of all departments was poor and issues of citizens were not being addressed.

Syed Zain Shah, another grandson of Syed, also paid rich tributes to Syed and his unmatched services to the Sindhi nation. He described the veteran leader as a man committed to the cause of Sindh, and said his love for the people and soil of Sindh was unquestionable.

Other SUP leaders including Roshan Ali Burirro and Mir Maula Bux Leghari also spoke.

Members of Syed family along with a large number of SUP activists and supporters laid wreaths on the grave of G.M. Syed and offered fateha. They were followed by scores of groups led by their respective leaders.

Earlier, a musical mystic recital programme was held on Saturday nigh at the bungalow which was attended by a large number of Syed’s followers. It continued till Sunday morning. The second major programme was organised by JSQM close to the Syed’s grave.

JSQM chairman Sannan Qureshi spoke to the participants and paid homage to the veteran leader.

In his speech, Mr Qureshi also condemned alleged crackdown on his party colleagues and activists of other nationalist groups across the province. He demanded immediate release of all activists and warned that all roads leading to Punjab would be blocked if the arrests did not stop. A series of demonstrations would also organised in every town of the province, he added.

Dr Niaz Kalani, Hanif Sagar Burdi, Kehar Ansari and other JSQM leaders also addressed the participants.

JSMM leader Shafi Mohammad Burfat’s recorded speech for the occasion was played at another programme held at a distance from Syed’s grave. He reaffirmed his resolve to continue the movement till the independence of Sindh by the name of Sindu Desh. He alleged that JSMM leaders and activists were arrested and tortured to death but this could not deter Syed’s followers from continuing his mission.

He said a large number of JSMM activists were picked up and kept at undisclosed places. He appealed to local and international rights organisations to raise the issue, and urged the United Nation to intervene.

The birth anniversary programme organised by JST’s Sarki faction was addressed by its chairman Dr Safdar Sarki by phone from the United States.

He described Syed as a ‘revolutionary leader’, and justified his group’s movement for an independent state of Sindh arguing that Sindhi people had been neglected in all spheres for decades.

His associates Abdul Fatah Channo and Ibrahim Soho also spoke at the programme.

JSM-Chandio faction leader Riaz Chandio addressed his supporters at another programme held to join in the celebration. He said Syed was a great philosopher and politician who devoted his entire life for the uplift of Sindhi people.

Mir Alam Marri, a leader of JSQM Arisar faction, spoke at a programme organised by his group to mark the occasion. He paid tribute to the veteran leader and highlighted his ideology. His close associate, Aslam Khairpuri, said Syed had dreamt of the restoration of an independent Sindh state and his dream would come true very soon.

JST Karnani faction leader Shafi Mohammad Karnani and JSQP chairman Qamar Bhatti and Jeay Sindh Inqilabi Party (JSIP) president Ghazi Khan Solangi addressed their respective birth anniversary functions.

JSIP also held a similar programme at the Hyderabad Press Club where Mr Solangi, along with other party leaders including Hameed Sindhi, Mansoor Qadir Junejo, Maulana Taj Mohammad Nahiyoon and Ashraf Noonari cut a cake and paid rich tributes to Syed’s struggle, our staff correspondent in Hyderabad adds.

Solangi said that Sindh had remained an independent state for thousands years and if Pakistan had to remain intact, it would have to grant autonomy to this region having around 80 million population. He said “all states should be given sovereignty.”

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2016