THATTA: Speakers at the first death anniversary of Awami Tehreek founder Rasool Bux Palijo held in his native Munghar Khan Palijo village near here on Saturday paid homage to the nationalist ideologue and said he wrote a new chapter in the history of Sindh politics by sensitising general public to their core issues.

The party’s president advocate Sajid Chandio said at the anniversary programme that continued through Saturday night and concluded by early Sunday morning that loot and plunder of Sindh’s resources had been going on since the independence of the country which had deprived the downtrodden section of society of even the most basic amenities a state was bound to provide its citizens. Furthermore, vested interests were busy usurping their legitimate rights, he said.

Retired Justice Wajhiuddin said that G.M. Syed and Rasool Bux Palijo could not be called merely leaders of Sindh but in fact they were great leaders of the country who earned unprecedented respect for their selfless services to the country.

Sindh United Party chief Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah said that Palijo had introduced new trends, traditions, conventions and norms in politics and proved himself to be an institution. Palijo produced a great number of diehard political workers, particularly women, and invested them with knowledge and political wisdom, he said.

Pakistan Peoples Party’s Senator Sassui Palijo, writer and columnist Wusatullah Khan, AT leaders Hoorunnisa Palijo, Maryam Gopang and Dada Qadir Ranto; Gul Hassan Kalmati, head of National Democratic Party Abdul Hai Baloch, classical dance artist Sheema Kirmani, Awami National Party leader Younis Buneri, Jeay Sindh Liberal Front head Nawaz Khan Zaur, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl leader Molana Taj Mohammad Nahiyoon and others showered praise on Palijo and said that the leader waged struggle not only fought for the rights of Sindh but equally fought for the country as well as all oppressed nations of the world.

They said that he raised voice for the autonomy of smaller provinces and launched drives time and again for safeguarding the legitimate rights of Sindh, including release of the province’s share of water to Sindh and against the construction of Kalabagh dam on Indus etc.

Participants in the programme unanimously adopted resolutions, opposing construction of any dam or canal on the Indus and demanding an end to issuance and termination of already issued National Identity Cards to outsiders, eviction of outsiders from Sindh and institution of inquiries into corruption in the province.

They expressed concern over prevailing political conditions in the country and demanded grant of complete autonomy to smaller provinces and immediate measures to help eradicate sense of deprivation in Sindh, Balochistan and Saraiki belt through restoration of their political, social, economic and other legitimate rights.

The audience was enthralled by classical dancer Sheema Kirmani’s performance to the poetry of Fahmida Riaz and others. A tableau and national songs were also presented by AT activists.

A number of books authored by late Palijo were also launched on the occasion towards the conclusion of the programme.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2019