DADU: Several thousand activists of various Sindhi nationalist parties and their factions gathered in Sann town of Jamshoro district on Saturday to celebrate the 122nd birth anniversary of veteran nationalist leader G.M. Syed.

While the main ceremony was organised by the Sindh United Party (SUP) close to the residence of its founder, Syed Jalal Mahmood Shah, other gatherings were held by Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz-Bashir (JSQM-B), its several factions, Jeay Sindh Mahaz-Riaz (JSM-R) and other entities near the grave of G.M. Syed.

The celebrations kicked off in the morning with large groups of activists of nationalist parties and followers of the late Syed arriving in Sann from across the province.

Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, addressing the SUP gathering said that Pakistan has neither remained a truly Islamic country nor a democratic state. He warning that continued denial of democratic rights to citizens was pushing the country towards chaos, conflicts and instability.

TTAP leaders attend programme, warn rulers against pushing country towards instability

He said that the people of Pakistan were demanding their rightful share in governance. “All state institutions must operate within their constitutional limits to ensure a stable and democratic Pakistan,” he stressed.

He said that any government that fails to provide basic amenities, including food, clothing and shelter, to its citizens has no moral right to rule over them.

He cautioned the rulers against turning the country into a battleground amid growing global power rivalries.

He said that the ongoing conflict of interest among the United States, China and Russia should not be allowed to suck in Pakistan. “We don’t want our homeland to become a battlefield,” he added.

Criticising the recent constitutional amendments, Achakzai said that the 26th and 27th Amendments had “strangled Pakistan” undermining democratic values and weakening the federation. He reiterated that only restoration of a genuine democracy and constitutional supremacy could ensure stability and peace in the country.

SUP president Syed Zain Shah called for collective efforts to reform the country’s political system through constitutional means. He announced that a complete wheeljam and shutterdown strike would be observed on February 8. He rejected “political deals for power” and also opposed any attempt to dismantle historical homelands into administrative units. He said speakers of different languages in Sindh stood united against “centralised control influenced by foreign powers”.

TTAP General Secretary Asad Qaiser said that public mandate was stolen on February 8, not only from Imran Khan but from the people of Pakistan. He alleged that recent legislations were designed to benefit the establishment, and urged traders and transporters to support the Feb 8 strike for the protection of people’s constitutional rights. He reiterated the demand for restoration of the 1973 Constitution in its original form.

Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said that there could be no justice without rule of law, adding that constitutional amendments were made out of fear by the rulers.

The gathering unanimously adopted several resolutions in support of the demands.

They claimed that police had put up barricades all along the routes of the venue and subjected them to frisking, checking and harassment.

The main gathering was to be addressed by SUP leader Syed Zain Shah and his senior party colleagues late in the evening.

At a separate gathering, JSM-R chief and Chairman of the Jeay Sindh Rahbar Committee Riaz Ali Chandio told his supporters that people managed to reach the venue despite harassments through raids and road blockades, which he described as ‘state repression’.

Chandio accused the Centre of denying Sindh its constitutional rights and autonomy for decades. He alleged that Sindh’s water, gas, oil, coal, land and other resources were being taken away. He said that policies of the federal and Sindh governments were undermining environment and increasing poverty, diseases and unemployment in the province.

He said the diversion of the Indus routes and flows had caused considerable damage to the agriculture sector and ecosystem.

He alleged that the oil and gas deposits being explored in Sindh were being taken away while locals remained deprived of their own resources.

He also criticised land acquisition for corporate farming and housing projects as well as Centre’s control over coastal areas, saying that all this was leading to the displacement of local communities and creating a potential threat to Sindh’s cultural and natural heritage, including mountains and lakes.

Condemning the worsening law and order situation across the province, Chandio observed an increase in the incidents of extrajudicial killings and other police excesses. He said that the health, education and irrigation sectors were collapsing. He also criticised the mainstream political parties for their failure to protect Sindh’s rights.

He announced that the Rahbar Committee would hold province-wide protests on January 20 against the raids and restrictions resorted to by police to sabotage G.M. Syed’s anniversary celebration.

He said his party would continue its peaceful struggle for Sindh’s survival.

Road blockades

The celebrations were marred by police who erected barricades on various roads leading to Sann town.

According to Sindh United Party (SUP) spokesperson Naveed Khawaja, party president Syed Zain Shah and his convoy of workers opted to travel via the Indus River after road blockades were put up by the police.

Zain Shah and party workers boarded boats from Nawabshah and proceeded to Sann, waving party flags and raising slogans, celebrating what they described as a breakthrough against restrictions on their movement.

The spokesperson said that the convoy reached the riverside residence in Sann, where the anniversary events were scheduled to take place.

Caravans of nationalist party leaders and workers arrived from various districts to participate in commemorative events.

The main public gathering was held in Sann under the leadership of the SUP, while other nationalist groups organised separate rallies and meetings to mark the occasion.

Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz-Bashir group led by Sanan Qureshi, JSM led by Riaz Chandio, and JST held separate programmes in Sann.

Activists of the banned Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM) also arrived in Sann and visited G.M. Syed’s grave.

As part of the celebrations, a birthday cake was cut at the SUP gathering, and party leaders and activists paid homage to the deceased leader.

In view of the situation, the district administration imposed Section 144 and deployed a heavy contingent of police at key locations to maintain law and order.

A torch-bearing rally was taken out by the SUP in Sann late at night, which passed through several neighbourhoods before concluding at G.M. Syed’s mausoleum. Participants carrying torches laid flowers on the grave and paid rich tribute.

Speaking to the media in two separate occasions in Sann, Syed Munir Hyder Shah and Dr Niaz Kalanai urged activists to stage peaceful demonstrations wherever police attempted to stop them from reaching the town.

A delegation of Tehreek-i-Tahaffuz-i-Aeen Pakistan faced multiple hurdles while travelling from Karachi to Sann.

In a video message, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) General Secretary Dr Masroor Sial strongly condemned the government’s actions, questioning whether speaking about the Constitution had now become a crime.

He said that obstructing a peaceful and constitutional movement reflected intolerance toward democratic voices and raised concerns about the state of democratic freedoms.

Dr Sial emphasised that the delegation was exercising its constitutional right to political activity and vowed that such measures would not deter efforts for the protection of the Constitution.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2026