THATTA, March 7: Speakers at a literary conference on Sufi Shah Inayat Shaheed demanded on Wednesday that the government should declare the Shaheed Sufi’s Urs as public holiday in the province and urged people of small provinces, particularly Sindhis, to get united and follow in the Sufi’s footsteps to achieve their rights.

The Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz leader Abdul Wahid Arisar, Dr Nawaz Ali Shouq, Taj Joyo, Dr Mohammad Ali Manjhi, Maryam Majidi and Sufi Huzoor Bux who spoke at the conference organised by Shah Inayat Shaheed Adabi Forum at the press club to mark the 298th death anniversary of the holy warrior-saint said that Sindh was passing through the most crucial periods of its history.

They said that majority of Sindhi politicians belonged to feudal class who cared only for their vested interests hence their nominal concern for the real issues of Sindh and Sindhis.

The state of affairs had virtually pushed the Sindhis into isolation and deepened their sense of deprivation multiplied by lack of literacy, unemployment, poverty and backwardness, they said.

Citing people’s struggle against tyranny and victimisation throughout the history they referred to a century-long movement known as "Bilawali Tehrik" launched against the rule of Arghuns and Mughals by Makhdoom Bilawal Shaheed.

They said that Shaheed Sufi and Sain G. M. Syed shared the same school of thought. Both fought on various fronts for the sacred cause of freeing Sindh and Sindhis from state terrorism and usurpation of rights by non-locals as well as waderas.

They came down hard on today’s Sufis and said merely attiring in yellow cloths, raising slogans, wearing beads around necks and pushing "Chilms" (a kid of pipe containing a mix of tobacco and charas) was not Sufism. It was an untiring struggle for the rights of the poor, the downtrodden and have-nots, they stressed.

It is a campaign for exploring the hardships facing humanity on the whole and addressing the problems of individuals without any discrimination of caste, creed or religion, they said.

The conference adopted a joint declaration demanding declaration of holiday on the Sufi Shah Inayat Shaheed's Urs throughout the province. A book on "Sufi Shah Inayat Shaheed" authored by Sufi Huzoor Bux was also launched on the occasion by Dr Nawaz Ali Shouq.

Our Hyderabad Bureau adds: Speakers at another conference on the Shaheed Sufi held at district council hall of Tando Muhammad Khan on Wednesday said that Shaheed Sufi’s message was to fight against oppressors and aggressors till death.

Ghaffar Malik, Abdul Hakeem Memon Advocate, Adam Malik and Anwar Rashid said at the conference sponsored by Sindh Development Society that Shaheed Sufi embraced martyrdom but refused to surrender to oppressors. He took up sword against the tyrant rulers and feudal lords and his message "Jeko Khere So Khaye" (he who tills have right to eat) was addressed not only to Sindh but to the entire world.

They said that Shaheed Sufi had proved by laying down his dear life that that no people could achieve their rights by begging, they had to fight for them. It was nearly unthinkable in those times to go against Mughal rulers and tyrant feudal lords but Sufi Shaheed fought against heavy odds till his death, they said.

The conference demanded at the conclusion that the government should declare public holiday on the Urs of Sufi Shah Inayat Shaheed.