Nationalists commemorate 22nd death anniversary of GM Syed

More than half a dozen factions of Jeay Sindh Tehreek organise separate public meetings

HYDERABAD: The message of an influential national leader, late GM Syed, about religious harmony and peaceful co-existence with ethnic communities resonated with his followers as they marked his 22nd death anniversary on Tuesday.

More than half a dozen factions of Jeay Sindh Tehreek organised separate public meetings to mark the day in Sann, the village and resting place of the late leader, in Jamshoro.

"If Syed's thoughts about religious harmony were adopted as guidelines, Pakistan wouldn't have suffered from extremism and terrorism," said Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah, a grandson of Syed who also heads Sindh United Party.



Shah, who has also remained deputy speaker in the Sindh Assembly, reiterated the demand of separating the state from religion.

"We condemn terrorism," said Jeay Sindh Qaumi Movement (JSQM) Chairperson Sanan Qureshi. JSQM organised a separate public meeting in Sann. "Syed didn't teach nurturing hatred for any nation.

He wanted to see human beings develop and prosper and loved all the people," said Qureshi.

JSQM's vice-chairperson, Dr Niaz Kalani, bemoaned that religion was used to justify the killing of Mashal Khan, a university student in Mardan.



At a public gathering in Nawabshah, Jeay Sindh Mahaz President Riaz Chandio said Syed believed in non-violent political struggle. The late leader even referred to his political adversaries with respect, Chandio added.

"We will never compromise on the rights of Sindh," said Chandio, vowing that the struggle for complete autonomy and control over the province's resources will continue.

The self-exiled nationalist leader of Jeay Sindh Tehreek (Sarki), Dr Safdar Sarki, in his speech, delivered through a video link from the United States, complained that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor benefited only Punjab.

The banned nationalist party, Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM), at its public meeting demanded setting up Sufi ashrams in every village of Sindh to defeat terrorism. JSMM President Shafi Burfat, who is also in exile, alleged that the mega-development projects in Sindh are being executed as a conspiracy to turn Sindhis in a minority in their motherland.