HYDERABAD: At a press conference on Wednesday, Sindhi nationalist leaders and opposition parties were at the receiving end as over half a dozen ruling party ministers vented their fury on the attacks at the houses of Pakistan Peoples Party leaders.
Interestingly, the Sindhu Desh Liberation Army, whose pamphlets were found near the houses, and the Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz, which is believed to be manning the army and whose workers were arrested in late night raids across the province, drew no mention.
“The pseudo-nationalists incited the people to surround our houses and harass our families,” said Sindh information minister Sharjeel Memon terming the IED attacks a “consequence” of such appeals.The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is financing the nationalists, he claimed, adding that he has the proof of who paid for the advertisements of the Save Sindh Committee. He contradicted himself later, however, when he said that the nationalists are tools in the hands of the forces he will not name.
Education minister Pir Mazharul Haq went a step ahead. “The anti-democracy forces are using these payroll agents to weaken the PPP in our stronghold,” he said. “Our friends (nationalists) have for the first time decided to enter the electoral politics and, therefore, they want to capitalise on the hate vote against the PPP.”
“It is similar to Nawaz Sharif’s anti-Bhutto slogan in Punjab,” corroborated federal minister Maula Bux Chandio.
Another provincial minister, Makhdoom Jameeluz Zaman, warned of retaliatory attacks if such hostilities continued. “The party leadership will be unable to control its workers,” he added.
The protests against the new local government system began the day it was promulgated on September 7. Besides the nationalists, many other political parties also joined in the chorus to oppose the law, believing that the system lays the basis to divide Sindh.
Pir Mazhar categorically rejected such contentions. “We are ready to die at the hands of our enemies or even our countrymen but we can’t let anyone divide Sindh,” he said.
The PPP ministers challenged the detractors of local governments to specify provisions which discriminated or intended to divide the province.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 11th, 2012.
COMMENTS (14)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
In the long run the PPP would have to side with the socalled Sindhi nationalists or adopt their views and attitudes. Karachi is therefore doomed--another Sarajevo in the making. Mohajirs are likely to run for their lives. I as a mohajir is already leaving the city for good.
@ Aftab Ahmed :"Irony of this press – conference is that PPP leaders instead of explaining and convincing ‘Sindhi nation’ that this new SLGO 2012 is in favor of whole Sindh; Sindhi nations’ / people sovereignty over Sindh including Karachi is not being snatched away , they contributed to blame ‘nationalist leaders’ saying that they (nationalists ) wanted some personal favors in the past. Sindhi nation is not going to be blackmailed in the blame-game rather Sindhi nation is looking at this SLGO 2012 objectively and believes that this new law divides Sindh and deprived Sindhi people’s rights and sovereignty over Sindh , particularly in Karachi and Hyderabad. SLGO 2012 is the death warrant for PPP in Sindh."
Best piece of comment.
@Khalid Aziz: Alliance between MQM and PPP is not to serve the ‘indigenous’ people of Sindh; MQM wants to control urban centers by getting unjustified resources for the big cities depriving rural people of Sindh from basic facilities i.e. education, health, water, and infrastructure; whereas on other hand PPP ministers are busy plundering resources of Sindh for their own bank accounts and families benefits. During last five years PPP has failed to establish any educational institution or health facility of international repute in rural areas of Sindh. Just look at the infrastructure in rural Sindh; that is real picture of PPP governance and performance during last five years. People of Sindh faced three floods / heavy rain fall for last three consecutive years, 2010, 2011, 2012 but the PPP government has failed to rehabilitate flood affected communities, instead flood-affected are publicly humiliated and beaten by the State machinery in the name of so-called WATAN card other compensation schemes. Perhaps PPP government has no funds for the development of rural Sindh, because huge chunk of Sindh Government annual budget is being spent on Karachi and Hyderabad. I think, PPP leaders have short-memory, just to recall for them that PPP leaders and its manifesto before 2008 Elections promised with people of Sind that if PPP would come into power PPP would restore Karachi and Hyderabad cities previous positions, would abolish Musharraf’s Local government law, would ensure that Sindhi students can get admission in Karachi academic institutions as well as employment for Sindhis in Karachi. It is also to remind PPP leaders that they took part in the protests along with nationalist parties when Mushrafff divided Hyderabad into several district and merged Karachi into one district. Irony of this press – conference is that PPP leaders instead of explaining and convincing ‘Sindhi nation’ that this new SLGO 2012 is in favor of whole Sindh; Sindhi nations’ / people sovereignty over Sindh including Karachi is not being snatched away , they contributed to blame ‘nationalist leaders’ saying that they (nationalists ) wanted some personal favors in the past. Sindhi nation is not going to be blackmailed in the blame-game rather Sindhi nation is looking at this SLGO 2012 objectively and believes that this new law divides Sindh and deprived Sindhi people’s rights and sovereignty over Sindh , particularly in Karachi and Hyderabad. SLGO 2012 is the death warrant for PPP in Sindh.
Alliance between MQM and PPP is not to serve the ‘indigenous’ people of Sindh; MQM wants to control urban centers by getting unjustified resources for the big cities depriving rural people of Sindh from basic facilities i.e. education, health, water, and infrastructure; whereas on other hand PPP ministers are busy plundering resources of Sindh for their own bank accounts and families benefits. During last five years PPP has failed to establish any educational institution or health facility of international repute in rural areas of Sindh. Just look at the infrastructure in rural Sindh; that is real picture of PPP governance and performance during last five years. People of Sindh faced three floods / heavy rain fall for last three consecutive years, 2010, 2011, 2012 but the PPP government has failed to rehabilitate flood affected communities, instead flood-affected are publicly humiliated and beaten by the State machinery in the name of so-called WATAN card other compensation schemes. Perhaps PPP government has no funds for the development of rural Sindh, because huge chunk of Sindh Government annual budget is being spent on Karachi and Hyderabad. I think, PPP leaders have short-memory, just to recall for them that PPP leaders and its manifesto before 2008 Elections promised with people of Sind that if PPP would come into power PPP would restore Karachi and Hyderabad cities previous positions, would abolish Musharraf’s Local government law, would ensure that Sindhi students can get admission in Karachi academic institutions as well as employment for Sindhis in Karachi. It is also to remind PPP leaders that they took part in the protests along with nationalist parties when Mushrafff divided Hyderabad into several district and merged Karachi into one district. Irony of this press – conference is that PPP leaders instead of explaining and convincing ‘Sindhi nation’ that this new SLGO 2012 is in favor of whole Sindh; Sindhi nations’ / people sovereignty over Sindh including Karachi is not being snatched away , they contributed to blame ‘nationalist leaders’ saying that they (nationalists ) wanted some personal favors in the past. Sindhi nation is not going to be blackmailed in the blame-game rather Sindhi nation is looking at this SLGO 2012 objectively and believes that this new law divides Sindh and deprived Sindhi people’s rights and sovereignty over Sindh , particularly in Karachi and Hyderabad. SLGO 2012 is the death warrant for PPP in Sindh.
This is the real face of nationalist and so called nationalist intelluctuals. Attack on homes by the peace symbol Ayaz Latif. Remember Peace Rally in Karachi by Ayaz Latif.
I agree.
In Sindh, others are pseudo nationalists except PPP. PPP knows how to love Sindh and love everyone in Sindh and also people in other provinces.
JSQM or JS Taraqi Pasand are pseudo and micro nationalist, who believe others must suffer it Sindh is to gain.
Will not be able to control its workers?
Why do we have a judicial system in the first place?
What these Nationalist has given to Sindh, Feudalism, Poverty, education? Nationalist Extremist are worst creature on Earth.
A gang of thieves, no less.
How lust for power can bewitch PPP leaders that they dont see any trouble in harming Sindh's fundamental rights. Sindh became part of federation, not because that its cities would be snatched, resources will be exploited. In colonization era, Sindhi was language of school, offices and communication but today, it is not allowed in most of schools in Karachi. Our heritage is not being protected but in the slogan of democracy as best revenge, PPP Govt is taking revenge from people of Sindh who always stood by them in troubled times. What a return PPP has given back to Sindh. But I am sure, beauty of democracy is free elections and if system continues with free Judiciary, and media as watch dog, PPP will pay prize for its betrayal against Sindh in elections. But at this time, Sindh is also watching closely role of IK and Mian NS, civil society and media for their genuine support.
Turf war has started, before it was for Karachi now its for rural Sindh.
Appease MQM and get your houses bombed. What a smart move by PPP!