HYDERABAD, July 13: The chief of the World Sindhi Congress (WSC), Dr Munawwar Halepoto, has said that Sindh was passing through a very critical phase therefore its people should unite on one platform to launch a struggle for their rights.

He said the rulers were ignoring the voice of Sindh as they wanted to keep permanent control over coastal areas and oil resources of the province.

He was speaking at a select gathering of journalists and intellectuals at a local hotel on Friday.

Answering a question, Halepoto said the Muttahida Qaumi Movement was talking about the cause of Sindh here but at international forums it was only pleading the case of the Urdu speaking people. He added that the MQM had always ignored the Sindhi people.

He said the MQM had always worked on its own agenda and never struggled for the rights of the Sindhi people.

Answering a question, Halepoto said that America itself was responsible for encouraging fundamentalism in the region. He added Osama Bin Laden was also the product of America.

About the ensuing elections and President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s policies, he said history was witness to the fact the general elections in the country had never been held in a fair, impartial and transparent manner and the parliament had always remained subservient to other forces.

He expressed doubts whether the new parliament would be allowed to complete its tenure.

He made it clear the affairs of Pakistan could not be run through the barrel of a gun but through the support of the people.

In his opinion, the crisis would continue unless Sindh and other provinces were allowed to run their affairs within the framework of Pakistan. In this context he cited the example of autonomous Scotland.