• STP chief tells him US should look into human rights violations
• QAT president says women facing injustices
• JSM-R leader complains of bids on life, false cases against workers

HYDERABAD: Jacey Jetton, who represents the people of Fort Bend County in the Texas House of Representatives, on Tuesday called on leaders of several Sindhi nationalist parties during his visit to Hyderabad.

He called on Sindh Taraqqi-Pasand Party (STP) chairman Dr Qadir Magsi, Jeay Sindh Mahaz-Riaz (JSM-R) leader Riaz Chandio and Qaumi Awami Tehreek (QAT) president Ayaz Palijo at their residences.

He was apprised of political situation obtaining in Sindh and issues like massive devastation caused by recent unprecedented rains and floods, human rights violations, natural resources of the province etc.

Dr Magsi received the guest at his residence and shared with him his views on overall political situation in Sindh and the country. He stressed that all international democratic forces must play their role for democracy in Pakistan.

The STP leader said that the United States should also look into human rights violation in Sindh and the rest of the country. He said that Sindh had been a separate homeland in the past and has a rich centuries-old civilisation.

“Pakistan is a multination state; equal rights for all federating units must be ensured,” he said.

He appreciated the works executed in Sindh through USAID in the larger interest of communities. He said that recent floods and inundation had caused massive destruction in the province, and added that survivors were left high and dry. They were not provided any relief whereas no rehabilitation work had been started, he added. He said Sindh was facing destruction, hunger, poverty and unemployment. People were passing a miserable life due to these factors, he said.

Mr Jetton was told that the last 15 years of rule by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) over Sindh had been plagued by record corruption. All international aid and donations must be subjected to audit, stressed Dr Magsi.

Riaz Chandio welcomed Mr Jetton to his residence and shared with him grievances of the people of Sindh.

He recalled that G.M. Syed had founded Jeay Sindh Mahaz (JSM) in 1972 to advocate rights of Sindh. He said that East Pakistan was forcibly separated from Pakistan and that’s why Syed propounded the idea of an independent country to restore the historical status of Sindh.

He said his party was fighting peacefully for prosperity of Sindh.

Discussing security and human rights issues, Mr Chandio said he was facing murderous attacks, and added that 63 false cases had been instituted against him and his party workers till date. He said that he was continuing with his democratic struggle and hoped that the visiting representative would pay attention to Sindh.

He said that the 1991 Water Accord was being violated and lands in Sindh had been degraded while its ecosystem stood destroyed. People of Sindh were being converted to a minority within their province and they were being killed extra-judicially. Recent floods had destroyed the entire infrastructure in Sindh displacing over two million people, he said.

Ayaz Latif Palijo told Mr Jetton that women had been playing an important role in the development of US and Europe whereas successive governments in Pakistan had failed to ensure women empowerment. He said that it was imperative that women here were given equal opportunities in health, education and employment, adding that this segment was facing injustices in Sindh and Pakistan.

He urged democratic forces to play their role for real democracy in Pakistan besides ensuring protection of fundamental rights. He said Pakistan had rendered tremendous sacrifices in the war against terrorism and this must be acknowledged. He said that Pakistan’s autonomy should be respected.

Despite having vital natural resources, Pakistan and Sindh were facing unemployment, hunger and starvation, he wondered.

“Artificial floods had caused widespread destructions in Sindh this year,” said Mr Palijo, and appreciated assistance from USAID in this regard. He also called for audit of the assistance provided by foreign donors for victims of floods.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2022