HYDERABAD: The Sindh Hari Committee on Friday observed the 51st death anniversary of peasant leader comrade Hyder Bux Jatoi at a ceremony held in Kalhora Colony.

The programme was attended by Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Sindh coordinator Prof Imdad Chandio, Awami Workers Party Sindh president Bakhshal Thalho, National Party leader Taj Marri, Masood Noorani of the Intellectual Forum, Sindh Hari Committee general secretary Ahmed Nawaz Inqalabi, senior vice president comrade Hukam Chand and others.

Speaking on the occasion, they said the philosophy of Hyder Bux was the philosophy for the prosperity of Sindh. There would have been different conditions in Sindh had his philosophy been followed as elimination of wadera shahi would lead to the progress of peasants in Sindh, they added.

Rejecting the “anti-Sindh” projects like Bahria Town and others, they said settlement of “outsiders” was harmful for Sindhis because all megacities were inhabited by “outsiders”.

They said Sindh had been “pushed” into tribal warfare and thousands of Sindhi youths had been killed in such conflicts.

The gathering adopted different resolutions demanding an end to illegal occupation of forest land by jagirdars. That land should be distributed among peasants and other homeless workers and people, they added.

One of the resolutions rejected dismantling of old villages and establishment of Bahria Town. It called for ending occupation of the land of small khatedars by waderas in Sindh.

A resolution demanded that water flows for Sindh should be released as per the relevant water accord and “theft” of Sindh’s water should be covered under antiterrorism law.

Others demanded that tribal clashes should be controlled; those harbouring dacoits should be brought to book; dual education system in Sindh should be abolished and increase in education fees should be withdrawn; children of workers, peasants and lower-scale employees should be provided scholarships.

It was also demanded that jobs should be distributed on merit; Sindh Civil Services Rules should be applied and those passed by Sindh cabinet should be abolished and feudalism in Sindh should be eliminated.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2021