LARKANA: Seventy activists of various nationalist parties led by Abdul Hameed Shaikh and Rizwan Chandio on Thursday announced their decision to quit politics of nationalism to join mainstream political parties.

Carrying national flags and raising the slogan of “Pakistan Zindabad’ they told a news conference at the local press club that they had decided to dissociate themselves from their respective nationalist groups. Previously they belonged to the Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM), Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) and other such groups.

They deplored that their leaders were sitting abroad and acting as a tool in the hands of Pakistan’s enemies and hatching conspiracies against the country.

These leaders, they said, were deceiving and exploiting innocent Sindhi youths.

“We are patriot Pakistanis now, we respect its constitution and state institutions, and we are ready for any sacrifices for its integrity, they said.

Those who spoke at the press conference included Abdul Hameed Shaikh, Azad Ali Sindhi, Muqeem Solangi, Najaf Ali, Zameer Ali Shaikh, Mureed Solangi, Shahid Mirani, Mumtaz Ali, Sajjad Ali, Waheed Ali Shaikh, Abdul Jabbar Tunio, Abid Ali Korai, Rizwan Chandio and Nazeer Thaheem.

Groups of nationalists, particularly those belonging to separatist outfits like JSMM, have been dissociating themselves from their respective entities after regular intervals of several months over the last few years. Some of these activists have remained underground so far to escape treason trials.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2021