HYDERABAD: A group comprising top leaders of several nationalist outfits calling itself the ‘Jeay Sindh Rahbar Committee’ staged rally against Afghan and other immigrants on Sunday and demanded deportation of all such people.

The rally, which started from Shahbaz Building and culminated outside the local press club, was led by Jeay Sindh Mahaz-Riaz (JSM-R) chief Riaz Chandio, who is also convener of the committee.

Speaking to the participants, Chandio said the immigrants settled in Sindh were a burden on the province and had undermined secularism and the Sindhi culture.

Retorting to Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s recent statements in favour of Afghans living in Pakistan, Chandio said: “Karachi is heart of Sindh; every city of the province belongs to Sindhis; immigrants will have to leave Sindh, which is occupied by them [immigrants]”.

Leader claims operation is being carried out only in Islamabad, Quetta and some KP cities

Chandio claimed that no operation in Sindh was taking place to expel immigrants, “who are millions in number”.

He described excluding Sindh from the operation as enmity with this province.

He further claimed that operation was launched only in Islamabad, Quetta and some cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said that Afghans living in Sindh possessed fake CNICs and domicile and were doing government jobs.

He blamed rulers of Sindh for bad governance and lawlessness in the province, and observed that the province was deprived of development.

JSQM-Arisar leader Aslam Khairpuri said that his party would continue its struggle against immigrants. He said that all those who had settled themselves in Sindh after 1954 should be expelled. He condemned that the coastal strip stretched across Badin and Thatta districts was being sold away. He alleged that the electricity generated with Thar’s coal was being used in Punjab.

Jeay Sindh Qaumi Party leader Nawaz Khan Zaunr said that this rally was against all immigrants, including Afghans.

He accused Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of having been involved in settling outsiders in Sindh.

JSQM-Bashir leader Dr Niaz Kalani said that Sindh had been discriminated against at all forums.

He said that Sindh’s land had been occupied through mega projects like DHA and Bahria Town.

He asked why immigrants’ cards were not being blocked. The Urdu-speaking community in Sindh should talk about immigrants’ repatriation, he stressed, and urged the community to go for a social boycott of immigrants.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2023