Chief of the Sindh National Front (SNF) Sardar Mumtaz Ali Bhutto, who was elected SQI chairman, made the announcement at a crowded press conference at his residence in Clifton.
Earlier, leaders of the seven component parties and groups — Sindh National Front, Jeay Sindh Mahaz–J, Jeay Sindh Mahaz-S, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, Sindh National Council, Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party and Sindh Intellectual Forum — held a closed door meeting.
The meeting decided to launch a concerted campaign to create awareness in people of their rights and mobilize public opinion against the ‘anti-Sindh’ projects, that included Thal Canal and Kalabagh Dam.
Sardar Bhutto, along with Abdul Khaliq Junejo, Bashir Qureshi, Dr Quadir Magsi, Dr Dodo Mehri, Dr Niaz Kalani, Gul Mohammad Jakhrani, Haider Shahani, Ayub Sher, Hashim Khoso, Liaquat Kazmi, Hussain Bux Thebo, Ibrahim Joyo, Ali Hasan Chandio, Punnal Sario and other nationalist leaders, told journalists that the alliance would launch the struggle on a one-point programme while all the component parties would maintain their individual entity pursue their respective manifestos.
He said that in the first phase, the alliance would launch a mass contact campaign by visiting every district and conveying the one-point programme to opinion leaders, activists and other prominent figures, including legislators, nazims, intellectuals, and elites of the society.
Mumtaz Bhutto observed that “attempts are being made to turn Sindh into a land of non-Sindhis and to reduce Sindhis to the level of Red Indians. Therefore, we have decided to take along all segments of the society for protection of the motherland.”
Referring to President Musharraf’s announcement about construction of the Kalabagh Dam which would also have two canals, Sardar Bhutto said that in the original dam plan, there was no mention of the canals.
He termed the president’s announcement ‘a declaration of war’ against Sindhi, Baloch and Pakhtoon people who had always opposed the dam plan. “Their assemblies have also passed resolutions against it,” he recalled.
The SQI chief pointed out that all the three nationalities would have to take part in the struggle for their rights but the Sindhis, who would be the worst sufferers among them, would have to offer more sacrifices.
Quoting the president’s statement that “any ruler who would go against the Kalabagh Dam would not be tolerated by Punjab, and would be removed”, the Sardar said the remarks had only endorsed our stand that the country was being run by the Punjab and the very same situation had resulted in the dismemberment of Pakistan. “If Punjab did not mend its ways, it would be pushing the country towards further disintegration,” he warned.
He said Punjab’s supremacy was not acceptable to the other provinces as all federating units had equal weight and rights in the federation.
Sardar Bhutto pointed out that despite rejection of Kalabagh dam by 80 million people of Sindh, Balochistan and NWFP provinces, making the announcement about Kalabagh Dam construction tantamount to a challenge to the people of the three provinces.
When his attention was drawn to President Musharraf’s remarks that he would remain in power until completion of Kalabagh Dam, Mr Bhutto pointed out that “whenever a military ruler takes over, he makes efforts for something that could prolong his rule.”
In reply to a question, he said if people of Sindh were pushed to the wall, they could consider referring their case to the international court.