HYDERABAD: Activ-ists of Jeay Sindh Mahaz (JSM) took out a rally on Sunday from Thandi Sarak to local press club against settlement of outsiders.

It was led by JSM chairman Abdul Khaliq Junejo, vice chairman Ameer Chandio, Hashim Khoso, Khalid Junejo and others.

Porhiat Mazahmat Tehreek leader Masroor Shah, writer Amanullah sheikh, Nisar Leghari advocate, Mohib Azad, Salma Junejo, Naseem Samoo, Amrata Azadi and others also joined the rally.

The participants carried placards and banners inscribed with slogans against settlement of outsiders in Sindh.

Addressing the rally outside the press club, the JSM chairman said that on the one hand, lands were being auctioned in Sindh and, on the other, people from other provinces were being settled in the province in large numbers. He said that this influx was continuing to ensure that Sindhis should become minority in their own homeland.

He said it was a conspiracy to displace Sindhis and this phenomenon could be understood from the case of Palestine in today’s world.

He said that India was doing the same thing in occupied Kashmir. He said while Pakistani rulers were condemning Indian policies in occupied Kashmir, they were part of a similar conspiracy aimed at converting Sindhis to a minority. He said that this plan was a threat to the existence and survival of Sindhi people and that’s why this struggle against the influx of outsiders in Sindh was launched.

He maintained that it was a kind of 21st century’s colonialism. He said that this struggle was aimed at ensuring the national existence of Sindh. He said that only a few nations exist in the world that were facing this direct threat to their existence, and added that since 2019 Indian-held Kashmir was facing this threat as people from other areas were being brought to settle there. He said that Sindh’s lands were being usurped in the name of development and communities from other provinces and states were being brought here for settlement under government patronage.

He pointed out that imperialist forces had done the same thing in Asia and Africa in the 18th and 19th century to occupy different states. He said that in the 21st century occupation was continuing through outsiders’ settlement. He alleged that this settlement in the garb of religion was continuing for 75 years which was followed by development-oriented narrative to bring people here. He said that after Sindh’s persistent struggle and clear viewpoint, now some groups were advocating this settlement in the name of poverty alleviation among outsiders in their own countries. He made it clear that under no slogan or narrative, such an influx of people could be accepted.

Prof Ameer Chandio demanded expulsion of Afghans and other immigrants from Sindh. He said that those who were coming to Sindh from other provinces should be allowed to get jobs only against work permits. He said that these people should be restrained from owning properties and casting votes.

Masroor Shah said that Sindh had been facing problems for centuries, and added that ever since PPP had founded the pace of repression against Sindhis, the loot had increased.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2023