HYDERABAD, March 5: A five-point declaration adopted by the Sindh Qaumi Conference on Sunday demanded formation of a new constituent assembly with equal representation from the provinces to frame a new constitution based on resolutions of March 23, 1940, and April 12, 1946, to make Pakistan a truly inclusive, representative and structurally-balanced state.

The participants of the conference rejected any water project on the Indus River and demanded closure of link canals built without permission of Sindh. They also demanded national status for Sindhi, Seraiki, Punjabi, Pashto and Seraiki languages.

The conference, which was in session on Sunday evening, has been organized by the Awami Tehrik at the Malakhro stadium, less than a kilometre from the shrine of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai in Bhitshah.

AT chief Rasool Bux Palijo presided over the conference.

The declaration demanded provincial autonomy for the provinces, saying that except for defence, foreign affairs and currency, all subjects should be given to the provinces. It said the provinces should be given control over their resources.

It said the right to collect and own taxes/revenues should be vested in the federating units and the new constitution should guarantee full provincial autonomy, religious harmony, tolerance, full democracy and an assurance that it would never be violated.

“No project which is against interests of Sindh or other smaller provinces should be planned or implemented. There should be no more dams on the Indus,” the declaration said while rejecting Kalabagh, Bhasha and other dams, as well as diversions of the Indus waters.

It said Chashma-Jhelum, Taunsa-Panjnad and the greater Thal canals should be closed and a compensation of Rs500 billion should be paid by the federal government to Sindh and other provinces for water theft.

It said the provinces’ media should be considered as national media and the languages should be given due share in public and private sector TV and radio channels.

The conference said that to fill the gap between representations in government and private sectors, Sindhis, Balochs, Pakhtuns, Punjabis and Siraikis should be given due share in federal and provincial ministries, judiciary, armed forces, diplomatic and corporate sectors.

It demanded that 80 per cent of provincial public and private sector services/jobs and national and international investments should be reserved and used for communities within their homelands.

The declaration condemned arbitrary arrests, extra- judicial killings and violence against women, children and minorities.

It called for repealing discriminatory laws and policies against civil liberties, women, minorities, peasants and labourers. It demanded end to alleged operations against Baloch and Sindhi people.

It said those arrested on false criminal charges should be released and violators of law should be punished. It also called for punishing criminals involved in operations in East Pakistan and Balochistan.

The conference demanded that the centre should pay a compensation of Rs2,000 billion to Sindhi people for atrocities and injustices they had suffered. It called for restoration of property of Sindhis in Hyderabad and Karachi.

It also demanded formation of an independent truth and reconciliation commission to investigate and compensate injustices, crimes and atrocities committed by the ruling forces since 1947. It said the commission should also expose murderers of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Fazil Rahoo, Mir Murtaza Bhutto, martyrs of the MRD movement and victims of violence on Oct 1, 1988.

Our Hyderabad Bureau adds: In a message to the conference, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto complimented the Awami Tehrik and organizers of the conference for highlighting issues facing the federation. Her message was sent to Ayaz Latif Palijo through senator and PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar.

Ms Bhutto observed that the strength and integrity of the federation lied in the strength of its federating units and, therefore, equal participation should be given to them in the affairs of the federation.

However, she said, in a military dictatorship, the power was concentrated in the hands of the dictator and his coterie. She said the federation had suffered the most during the military dictatorship in 1971.

She said that again during the military dictatorship, the federation was under great stress. In Balochistan, there was a full-fledged insurgency which was threatening the unity and integrity of the country. She said people felt deprived of their fundamental rights, both political and economic. She criticized the government’s resolve to build the Kalabagh dam.