KARACHI, Sept 18: Leaders of the Jeay Sindh Mahaz, addressing a rally here on Saturday, demanded legislation against illegal immigrants who, they said, had been creating economic problems for the people of Sindh. They said that Sindhi people would have no objection if the ‘settlers’ were given citizens’ rights and jobs, as provided under the relevant international laws, for a certain period.

Expressing concern over the big and constant influx of people in the province from other countries, as well as other parts of the country, they said that the situation had become even more painful as these immigrants had been granted political rights also, thereby enabling them to change the demographic position of the province.

They maintained that at the initial stage, these immigrants had been allowed to settle in the kachi abadis, but gradually they made permanent settlements.

They stressed the need for laws to contain the influx, especially of people from the neighbouring countries, and to deny them political rights.

Besides JSM Chairman Abdul Khalique Junejo, who led the rally, Hashim Khoso, Khan Mohammad Boyo, Saeed Baloch and other JSM leaders addressed the protesters. Activists, particularly women, of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum also joined in the protest against the construction of Kalabagh dam and Thal Canal, as well as other ‘anti-Sindh’ projects.

The leaders took exception to the rulers’ policy of crippling Sindh economically, and deplored that despite protests from all legal and public forums, the military rulers were bent upon going ahead with their unpopular projects.