HYDERABAD, Nov 25: The chairman of his own faction of the Jeay Sindh Mahaz (JSM), Abdul Khaliq Junejo expressed fear that what happened in the meeting of the Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (Ponam) on Oct 31 seems to be the beginning of the end of the inspiration and the resolve which had been generated after the founding of Ponam on Oct 2, 1998 at Islamabad.

He said the coming into being of Ponam and its Islamabad declaration had created a new spirit in the oppressed nations — Sindhi, Baloch, Pashtoon, and Seraiki people — and it was hoped that the alliance would eliminate the injustices done unto oppressed nations and the supremacy of the Punjab.

In a communication addressed to the central convener and the members of the central council of Ponam, Abdul Khaliq Junejo said that he was given an invitation by the president of Ponam Sindh Chapter on Oct 25 to attend the provincial meeting of the movement on Oct 31.

He said when he reached the venue of the meeting, he was informed by some friends of Ponam parties that some other people had also claimed the membership of Ponam on behalf of the Jeay Sindh Mahaz and, therefore, this dispute should be resolved before the commencement of the meeting.

He, however, regretted that the basis on which the dispute was resolved had given rise to many questions.

He said that the Ponam leaders heard the point of view of both the groups separately, and added that he invited their attention to clause 5 of the Ponam constitution.

Mr Junejo claimed that under this clause only two guidelines for membership had been prescribed.

He said those parties who had signed the Islamabad declaration and were still working were the members of Ponam or the others who had obtained memberships under clause 6(1) were qualified to be the members.

Mr Junejo said that the other group was not qualified under both these clauses and added that he himself was a member of the charter committee and signed on the Islamabad declaration on behalf of the JSM.

He said he offered Ponam leaders to appoint a committee and determine whether the elections in the JSM were held in a democratic manner.

He said that the Ponam leadership gave a unanimous decision accepting both the groups as affiliates of Ponam.

However, he said, later the president of Ponam, Sindh chapter, informed him that the majority had accepted the other group as the representative of the Jeay Sindh Mahaz.

He wondered that when Ponam could not respect its own constitution, how could it ask the rulers to follow and implement the 1940 resolution.

He was also surprised that those who had been struggling with Ponam for three years were deprived of representation.

Abdul Khaliq Junejo also failed to understand how the unanimous decision was later changed and what was the need of asking someone else after the decision had already been announced.

He asked the central leaders of Ponam to answer the above questions to satisfy the people, especially the intelligentsia.