DADU: Activists of Sindh United Party, Jeay Sindh Mahaz and other component parties of Sindh Action Committee protested in Sindh towns on Sunday against occupation of land by ‘builder mafia’ and arrival of Afghan refugees and other outsiders in the province.

The nationalist parties’ activists took out a motorcycle rally from Zero Point to press club in Nawabshah to record their protest against reports that Sindh government had doled out thousands of acres to builders.

SUP central general secretary Roshan Ali Buriro said while speaking to protesters that nationalist parties’ protest outside Bahria Town Karachi’s gate on June 6 was a referendum against the Sindh government, which had registered over 30 FIRs against nationalist leaders and activists.

He said that Sindh police had been turned into “Zardari’s personal force”, which the Pakistan Peoples Party had let loose on nationalist leaders and activists. Police had arrested a number of activists after attack on a rally in Nawabshah about five days back, he said.

He announced that SUP would continue to hold more rallies and demonstrations across Sindh on Sept 8 in protest against registration of FIRs against nationalist parties’ leaders and activists.

Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party chairman Dr Qadir Magsi said that Sindhis had rejected all anti-Sindh projects and their struggle for the rights of Sindh would continue.

He said that since Sindh was already facing economic crisis it would not bear burden of more Afghan refugees. Sindhi people had rejected the provincial government’s plans for illegally handing over land to the ‘mafia’, he said.

JSM chiarman Riaz Chandio warned PPP rulers to stop victimisation of nationalist leaders and activists.

Awami Tehreek leader Sajjad Chandio, Nawaz Khan Zour of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Party, Awami Jamhoori Party’s general secretary Noor Nabi Rahujo and Aslam Khairpuri of JSQM also spoke at the gathering.

MIRPURKHAS: Scores of workers and office-bearers of JSM held a demonstration outside local press club in protest against arrival of Afghan refugees and other outsiders in Sindh and demanded authorities immediately stop their influx in the province.

Zahoor Leghari and Taj Baloch, who led the protest, condemned the Sindh government for allowing Afghan nationals and other outsiders to land in the province.

They feared the outsiders would deprive Sindhi people of their rights after getting NICs, domiciles and other necessary documents. They might also acquire jobs here and contest election, they said.

They said that in the wake of new developments in Afghanistan, more refugees might arrive in Pakistan and then rush to Sindh to earn livelihood.

HYDERABAD: JSM activists staged protest against Afghan refugees’ arrival in Sindh and said the party would resist their settlement in the province.

JSM acting chairman Hashim Khoso, who led the protest, said that since Sindh was not responsible for the situation in Afghanistan, international powers should themselves bear the burden of more refugees.

He said that the refugees should be repatriated to their home country and demanded that those arriving in Sindh from other provinces should not be given right to work and hold property.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2021