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KARACHI, March 29: Awami Tehrik chief Rasool Bux Palejo on Tuesday called upon the people to unite to launch a decisive struggle to get their rights which were promised by the Quaid-i-Azam.
He was speaking at the end of a long-march by the Awami Tehreek against the Thal Canal, Kalabagh Dam and other controversial projects. The march which began in Sukkur on Mrach 1 culminated the Karachi Press Club.
Before culminating peacefully, the long march turned into a massive rally which was addressed by PPP leaders Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, Hakim Ali Zardari, Awami National Party leader Shahi Syed, Baloch National Party leader Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch, PML-N leader Sardar Abdul Rahim, ARD Sindh President Zain Ansari and Jeay Sindh Tarraqi Pasand Party leader Dr Quadir Magsi.
The participants of the march covered 580 kms on foot during 29-day long journey. Every day, a batch of 250 activists, including 50 women, used to cover 20 to 25 kms on foot who were joined by local population in every town on its route.
The participants, a majority of them women who came in four-wheelers from different parts of the province, were holding party flags and banners, and were raising slogans against Kalabagh Dam and Greater Thal Canal. The most popular slogan was ?Musharraf should make choice between Kalabagh Dam or Pakistan?.
The speakers flayed the government, and described Gen President Musharraf as a usurper and illegal ruler who, they claimed, had no right to impose his will against the verdict of the people.
Mr Palejo said the present Pakistan was not the Pakistan of Quaid-i-Azam, and stated that the army was killing its own people in Balochistan, while operation was going on in Wana in NWFP and Sindh was being denied its water share.
The AT chief called upon the people to launch a decision struggle, and said the 1940 resolution had committed entity and autonomy to all units wherein all would be equal and have equal rights.
He warned the rulers that people were yearning for a new system based on equality, justice, and human friendliness.
?They cannot be suppressed any more; and they will never allow anti-Sindh and anti-people projects to be built under coercion.?
Referring to President Gen Musharraf?s public meeting in Sindh, he said that Gen Musharraf while visiting Sindh had been hurling threats upon the people.
?We want to tell Gen Musharraf that the decision-making hour has come. People are now aware of their rights and they are going to wage a decisive struggle in which either he or we would be the winner.
?We don?t need present Pakistan which lost its existence when Bangladesh was created. Now we will build a new Pakistan wherein all provinces would have equal rights. For this, all Sindhis, Balochs and Pathans should join hands to wind up the present system and replace it with a democratic, people and human being friendly system.
He said Gen Musharraf wants to build dams over river Indus, depriving us of even whatever water was available.
In Sindh, PPP emerged as a winner in the 2002 elections, but he handed over power to people in Azizabad who were facing serious charges of terrorism and murders. At Nine-Zero, he said, the rate for employment was Rs50,000. He said he was not against Urdu-speaking people and their culture which was in fact our culture also.
Dr Hayee Baloch said now all oppressed people of the country had joined hands to launch a struggle get rid of the illegal and unconstitutional rulers.
He opposed construction of cantonments and mega projects in Balochistan by terming them a conspiracy to control resources of local people and use them for the hegemony of a province.
Mr Shahi Syed said Pakistan and Kalabagh Dam could not go together. He said Gen Musharraf was delivering speeches in support of Kalabagh Dam. He should allow all other generals in the army to exercise this right to come and express their views about Kalabag Dam.
Mr Nisar Kuhro said today people in every street were protesting against the Kalabag Dam and other anti-Sindh projects, but Gen Musharraf had closed his eyes.
?We would not allow Gen Musharraf to become Gorbachev by foiling all attempts to disintegrate Pakistan,? he added.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah said people were dying of hunger, poverty and thirst in Sindh, the PPP would hold the general accountable after coming to power.
Mr Hakim Ali Zardari said that PPP would always side with the people in their every struggle for the rights.
Sardar Abdul Rahim said Pakistan Muslim League?N was with the people of Sindh in their struggle as Mr Nawaz Sharif made it clear that if even a single man was opposed to the project, it should not be built.
Mr Qadir Magsi appealed to the people to make the Ponam?s wheel jam and shutter down strike successful
Other speakers included Ms Arena Baloch, Ms Zamia Sheikh, Azeri Qurush, Air Bhambhro, Kamal Chang, Gul Mohammad Jakhrani, Ms Fehmida Mirza, Ms Noor Naz Agha, Ms Shugufta Jumani, Ms Sasui Palejo, Abrar Qazi, Ayaz Lateef Palejo, and Qadir Ranto.
He was speaking at the end of a long-march by the Awami Tehreek against the Thal Canal, Kalabagh Dam and other controversial projects. The march which began in Sukkur on Mrach 1 culminated the Karachi Press Club.
Before culminating peacefully, the long march turned into a massive rally which was addressed by PPP leaders Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, Hakim Ali Zardari, Awami National Party leader Shahi Syed, Baloch National Party leader Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch, PML-N leader Sardar Abdul Rahim, ARD Sindh President Zain Ansari and Jeay Sindh Tarraqi Pasand Party leader Dr Quadir Magsi.
The participants of the march covered 580 kms on foot during 29-day long journey. Every day, a batch of 250 activists, including 50 women, used to cover 20 to 25 kms on foot who were joined by local population in every town on its route.
The participants, a majority of them women who came in four-wheelers from different parts of the province, were holding party flags and banners, and were raising slogans against Kalabagh Dam and Greater Thal Canal. The most popular slogan was ?Musharraf should make choice between Kalabagh Dam or Pakistan?.
The speakers flayed the government, and described Gen President Musharraf as a usurper and illegal ruler who, they claimed, had no right to impose his will against the verdict of the people.
Mr Palejo said the present Pakistan was not the Pakistan of Quaid-i-Azam, and stated that the army was killing its own people in Balochistan, while operation was going on in Wana in NWFP and Sindh was being denied its water share.
The AT chief called upon the people to launch a decision struggle, and said the 1940 resolution had committed entity and autonomy to all units wherein all would be equal and have equal rights.
He warned the rulers that people were yearning for a new system based on equality, justice, and human friendliness.
?They cannot be suppressed any more; and they will never allow anti-Sindh and anti-people projects to be built under coercion.?
Referring to President Gen Musharraf?s public meeting in Sindh, he said that Gen Musharraf while visiting Sindh had been hurling threats upon the people.
?We want to tell Gen Musharraf that the decision-making hour has come. People are now aware of their rights and they are going to wage a decisive struggle in which either he or we would be the winner.
?We don?t need present Pakistan which lost its existence when Bangladesh was created. Now we will build a new Pakistan wherein all provinces would have equal rights. For this, all Sindhis, Balochs and Pathans should join hands to wind up the present system and replace it with a democratic, people and human being friendly system.
He said Gen Musharraf wants to build dams over river Indus, depriving us of even whatever water was available.
In Sindh, PPP emerged as a winner in the 2002 elections, but he handed over power to people in Azizabad who were facing serious charges of terrorism and murders. At Nine-Zero, he said, the rate for employment was Rs50,000. He said he was not against Urdu-speaking people and their culture which was in fact our culture also.
Dr Hayee Baloch said now all oppressed people of the country had joined hands to launch a struggle get rid of the illegal and unconstitutional rulers.
He opposed construction of cantonments and mega projects in Balochistan by terming them a conspiracy to control resources of local people and use them for the hegemony of a province.
Mr Shahi Syed said Pakistan and Kalabagh Dam could not go together. He said Gen Musharraf was delivering speeches in support of Kalabagh Dam. He should allow all other generals in the army to exercise this right to come and express their views about Kalabag Dam.
Mr Nisar Kuhro said today people in every street were protesting against the Kalabag Dam and other anti-Sindh projects, but Gen Musharraf had closed his eyes.
?We would not allow Gen Musharraf to become Gorbachev by foiling all attempts to disintegrate Pakistan,? he added.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah said people were dying of hunger, poverty and thirst in Sindh, the PPP would hold the general accountable after coming to power.
Mr Hakim Ali Zardari said that PPP would always side with the people in their every struggle for the rights.
Sardar Abdul Rahim said Pakistan Muslim League?N was with the people of Sindh in their struggle as Mr Nawaz Sharif made it clear that if even a single man was opposed to the project, it should not be built.
Mr Qadir Magsi appealed to the people to make the Ponam?s wheel jam and shutter down strike successful
Other speakers included Ms Arena Baloch, Ms Zamia Sheikh, Azeri Qurush, Air Bhambhro, Kamal Chang, Gul Mohammad Jakhrani, Ms Fehmida Mirza, Ms Noor Naz Agha, Ms Shugufta Jumani, Ms Sasui Palejo, Abrar Qazi, Ayaz Lateef Palejo, and Qadir Ranto.
