Sindhi writer refuses national honour

Bilawal highlights disappearance of Taj Joyo’s son, draws attention to missing persons

KARACHI:

Renowned Sindhi writer, historian and political activist Taj Mohammad Joyo has refused to receive the Pride of Performance Award - a civilian award bestowed by the state - in protest of his son’s ‘disappearance’ earlier this week.

The award was announced on Friday, on the occasion of Independence Day, by President Dr Arif Alvi and 184 prominent personalities, including Taj, are to receive the award at a ceremony on March 23, 2021.

Taj, however, has rejected the award in the wake of the disappearance of his son, Sarang Joyo, a teacher and research associate at the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST).

Sarang, 35, has been missing since Monday night, when he was reportedly whisked away from Taj’s house in Karachi. His disappearance is being linked to his participation in demonstrations held in relevance to missing persons.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Taj said, “I, too, was at a protest camp [outside the Karachi Press Club] when I was told about the announcement [regarding the award],” adding he was already aware of his nomination at the time.

“I will not receive the award in protest of the non-recovery of missing persons [in Sindh],” he held firm. “Sindh has been denied its rights, including water and other resources. How can I receive the award in such a situation?”

He, along with his wife, Sarang’s wife and daughter, has been attending a protest camp outside the KPC, demanding the release of missing persons.

Reflecting on the recent happenings, he said he, too, was arrested at the age of 27 years. “Sarang is also mature enough,” he remarked.

Taj himself is a prominent literary personality and has been serving as the head of Sindhi Language Authority. He was also elected the secretary general of Sindhi Adabi Sangat, an organisation of writers in the Sindhi language.

With the issue gaining prominence on social media, Pakistan Peoples Party chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tweeted on Saturday that he had requested Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar to take up Sarang’s case.

“[I am] hopeful a future Senate Human Rights Committee meeting will be held in Sindh to take up the issue of missing persons in the province,” he posted on Twitter.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2020.