KARACHI: The Qaumi Awami Tehreek (QAT) on Sunday held a rally outside the Karachi Press Club against the federal government’s move to control islands of Sindh, establishment of the Karachi coordination committee, excavation of granite in Thar and other “anti-Sindh” projects.

The rally titled Bedari (awakening) march had started from Kashmore and culminated in the city on Sunday. It was also attended by several political and religious parties and representatives of civil society organisations.

The participants, including a large number of women, carried banners inscribed with slogans against the federal government’s move to control Sindh’s islands and its other actions.

Speaking to protesters, QAT chief and general secretary of Grand Democratic Alliance Ayaz Latif Palijo asked the GDA to dissociate itself from the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led government at the Centre.

‘PM Imran Khan spreading hatred in Sindh’

He said the federal government’s decision to set up the Pakistan Islands Development Authority (PIDA) through an ordinance was illegal and unconstitutional.

“People of Sindh have rejected the occupation of their islands and excavation of granite from Karoonjhar [Nagarparkar] hills,” he declared.

He said: “The division of Sindh would be division of Pakistan. Therefore, a conspiracy to divide Sindh should be shunned.”

He claimed that the global powers were eying the islands of Sindh and Balochistan and new authorities were being set up, which would be resisted.

The GDA leader suggested that the PTI should not become part of the conspiracy to occupy resources of Sindh and division of the province.

He asked the GDA to seek an ‘explanation’ from Prime Minister Imran Khan on the said issues.

“If the PTI would not separate itself from these conspiracies, then the GDA should end its alliance with it,” proposed Mr Palijo.

He accused Imran Khan of “spreading hatred in Sindh”.

He said provision of electricity and potable water were the rights of citizens of Karachi but added that the people in the province had been pushed back as they were deprived of not only drinking water but other basic facilities as well.

“The PPP-led Sindh government is selling lands of the province at cheap prices and this act was harmful for the people,” said the QAT head. “Urdu-speaking people are our brothers and I invite them to join our struggle for rights of the Sindh.”

Speaking to the audience, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl leader Allama Nasir Mehmood said his party would resist the conspiracies against resources of Sindh and division of the province.

He said the JUI-F was against centre’s move to control the islands.

Karamat Ali of the Pakistan Institute of Labour Research and Education (Piler), leaders of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, Awami Jamhoori Party, Sindh United Party, Sindh Taraqqi-pasand Party, Sindhiani Tehreek and others also spoke.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2020