Jeay Sindh founder’s son bids to unite factions

Ameer Hyder Shah revs up efforts to launch a potent struggle from a single platform.

KARACHI: Ameer Hyder Shah, the son of the late founder of the Jeay Sindh Tehreek GM Syed, has revved up efforts to reunite the Jeay Sindh factions, so that the nationalists of the province can launch a more potent struggle from a single platform.

“I have started contacting leaders from different (Jeay Sindh) factions and the results have been positive so far,” Shah told The Express Tribune. “I hope they will all come together to form a single powerful party that can more effectively campaign for the rights of the Sindhi people.”

The Jeay Sindh Tehreek had split following the death of the movement’s pioneer, Ghulam Murtaza Shah, popularly known as Saeen GM Syed. Today there are around 11 different groups that use the same red flag of the original Jeay Sindh party, with more or less the same manifesto - the independence of Sindh.

However, they accuse each other of being involved in corruption, crime and introducing bad policies. Some factions believe in a peaceful struggle to achieve their goals, while others prefer violence.

The Jeay Sindh Tehreek and its student wing, the Jeay Sindh Students Federation, played a vital role during the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy until the death of their founder in 1995. The Jeay Sindh factions, all of them claiming to be the actual followers of GM Syed, include the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (Bashir Qureshi Group), the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (Arisar Group), the Jeay Sindh Mahaz led by Abdul Khaliq Junejo, the Jeay Sindh Mahaz (Riaz Chandio Group), the Jeay Sindh Tehreek led by Dr Safdar Sarki, the Jeay Sindh Qaumparast Party led by Qamar Bhatti, the Jeay Sindh Mahaz (Rasool Bux Thebo Group), the Jeay Sindh Mahaz (Sufi Hazoor Bux Group), the Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz led by Shafi Muhammad Burfat, the Sindh United Party led by GM Syed’s grandson Jamal Mehmood Shah  and the Jeay Sindh Tahreek (Shafi Karnani Group).

“We respect Ameer Hyder Shah, who is the son of our ideological leader, but there is a need to review the basic points on which the factions can be united,” said Abdul Khaliq Junejo, who heads his own faction of the Jeay Sindh Mahaz. Not all factions share the same ideology as some of them support criminal elements and feudalism, he added.

“Some (factions) support a suspension of educational activities … how is it possible for us to be on the same page on this point?”

Junejo said, adding that similar efforts were initiated after the death of GM Syed but they failed. “There were four groups at that time and some of our leaders tried to unite them, but it only resulted in the creation of more factions. I avoid making the same mistakes.”

Dr Safdar Sarki, who heads the Jeay Sindh Tehreek, said that a lack of ideological politics and a democratic culture, as well as egotism within the Jeay Sindh Tehreek’s ranks, led to the creation of the factions.

“Criminals became a part of the party and leaders belonging to the lower middle class became rich within a short time. These people were being patronised by the state agencies,” he said, adding, “despite differences, we are ready to be united on a single platform for the sake of the Sindhi people.”

Asif Baladi, the general secretary of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (Bashir Khan Group), said that Ameer Hyder Shah contacted them and they are ready for ideological unity. However, he laid emphasis on the modus operandi for the unification. “A sustainable alliance or merger can only take place after a long deliberation and we hope that Ameer Hyder Shah will be successful in his endeavour by the next birth anniversary of GM Syed.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2010.