SUKKUR: Activists of several nationalist parties took out a rally under the aegis of Sindh Action Committee here on Sunday in protest against mega housing projects, “centre’s attempt to take over control of islands, settlement of outsiders in Sindh and plunder of the province’s resources”.

The rally, which began from hockey ground and marched up to Clock Tower roundabout where it turned into a public meeting, was led by Sindh United Party chairman Zain Shah, Jeay Sindh Mahaz-Riaz chairman Riaz Chandio and leaders of Sindh Taraqqi-pasand Party, Awami Jamhoori Party, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz-Arisar, Awami Tehreek, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz-Bashir and others.

SUP’s Zain Shah and JSM’s Riaz Chandio said in their speeches that Sindh was “under attack” as the centre was attempting to take over control of its resources by “occupying” its islands while the rulers thrust upon Sindh were bent on auctioning the province’s lands. It was, hence, need of the hour that Sindhis woke up to guard their resources and rights, they said.

They said that non-natives were being settled in the province to convert Sindhi majority into a minority and several thousand acres of land was being handed over to mega housing societies where non-natives would own pricey properties.

They said that the poor were being made homeless by demolishing their houses, shops and other structures in the name of drive against encroachments while people of Sindh were already facing abject poverty, unemployment and hunger.

They warned that Sindh Action Committee’s peaceful protest movement and struggle would continue till all outsiders were expelled from Sindh.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2021