HYDERABAD, Feb 6: The Pakistan Oppressed Nations’ Sindh Unity Council has opposed opening of the Khokhrapar-Munabao route. A meeting of the council held at the Taraqqi Pasand House here on Sunday said the opening of the route would lead to influx of Indians into Sindh which should not be allowed. It feared that a lot of people from India would enter Sindh illegally after opening of the route.

Sindh PONM president Dr Qadir Magsi presided over the meeting.

The meeting apprehended that due to legal as well as illegal entry of outsiders, the indigenous population would be converted into a minority.

It demanded that outsiders who had entered Sindh after 1954 and had been issued National Identity Cards and allowed to purchase properties should be expelled from Sindh.

Condemning the operation in Balochistan, the council emphasized that the Baloch nation alone had the right over natural resources of the province. It demanded that the operation should be stopped forthwith and security forces deployed in Balochistan withdrawn.

It also opposed construction of Kalabagh, Bhasha and Munda dams on the River Indus, saying the people of Sindh would not accept construction of any dam on the Indus. It claimed that the people of Sindh had the first right over Indus waters and no water project could be constructed on the river without their consent.

It lashed out at Mahar brothers for supporting the Kalabagh dam and warned that whosoever supported the project, would be considered traitors of Sindh.

Rejecting the NFC award on the basis of population, it demanded that the award should be announced on the basis of revenue generation, poverty and backwardness of the area.

It condemned the recent increase in prices of sugar and other essential commodities. It demanded that the government should withdraw the increase in prices of essential items.

Those who attended the meeting included Sindh Hari Committee president and Sindh PONM general secretary Azhar Jatoi, Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party leader Nandlal Malhi, Sindh National Front leaders Ayoub Shar and Wali Mohammad Jamari and Jeay Sindh Qaum Parast Party leaders Mohammad Khokhar and Dodo Deshi.