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Chairperson
Sindhi-Baloch Forum
Mr. Chairperson
I am extremely delighted to have been invited to speak to the
distinguished guests and the members of the public from your Forum.
The subject of the discussion of this Seminar "Positioning
Pakistan in "War Against Terrorism" is an extremely
complex one. The word "Positioning" signifies choice
whereas in case of Pakistan, Pakistan had no choice of positioning
herself. In the governance of Pakistan or in its foreign policy, the
ruling oligarchy of Punjab does not consider political or public
consensus. It was imposed by a single telephonic conversation
between the senior members of the U S Administration and the
President General Parvez Musharraf, which according to the news
reports was as follows? U.S. "What did we just say? The Taliban
are your guys. Osama-bin-Laden has their protection. We have just
lost 6000 people. We are in no mood for games. You join us, or face
our wrath too". That in fact, decided the
"Positioning" of the Government of Pakistan in "War
Against Terrorism".
Before the tragic terrorists attacks on the Twin Towers in New York
and Washington on 11th. September 2001, the "Positioning"
of Pakistan was crystal clear. I am quoting two excerpts from the
statements of the President of Pakistan General Parvez Musharraf;
the first one was made on 5th. February 2000 that stated:
"Jihad is not terrorism, Mujahideen organizations
are not
terrorist organizations. Jihad had been revived during Afghan war
and now it is Jihad in Kashmir. Muslims from different parts of the
world are coming together to support their oppressed brothers and
sisters". On 14th. August 2001, he said: "The Taliban are
the dominant reality in Afghanistan, and the international community
should engage rather than isolate them". Those statements
should be clear enough to establish the position of Pakistan pre-
and post 11th. September 2001 tragedy.
The Military and the ISI had created the Taliban and hundreds other
terrorists groups, trained them, fed them, nourished them and then
armed them in the name of "Jihad". It then, connected them
with Osama-bin-Laden and his Al-Qaeda to conquer the entire
Afghanistan in search of strategic-depth in case of an Indian
attack. Expecting Pakistan to fight terrorism is like asking Frank
stein to destroy his own monster.
While supporting the United States, Great Britain and the
International Community in dismantling the Taliban and Al-Qaeda
network, the ISI continually played the double game. It continued
its logistic support to the Taliban, formulated their war strategy
including supply of arms and men. The MQM continuously kept
informing President George W Bush and the Prime Minister Rt.Hon.
Tony Blair about the double game and duplicity of the ISI. The
intelligence information gathering of the MQM was validated by the
voluminous International Press reports about the double game of the
ISI, later on.
I, on behalf of the MQM and the permanent citizens of Sindh offered
fullest and unconditional support to the United States and Great
Britain in combating and eradicating terrorism from face of the
earth including Afghanistan. I offered them humint resources for
intelligence gathering and monitoring of "Madrassas" in
Sindh province and Punjab. I organized "Rally Against
Terrorism" in Karachi in which, over 300,000 men, women and
children participated to show their solidarity with the
International Community on 26th. September 2001. This was the first
demonstration of its kind in favor of the United States and Great
Britain, in any part of the world. The "Rally against
Terrorism" was followed by the province-wide vigil on 27th.
September 2001. Terrorism and violence, in any shape or form, cannot
and will not be tolerated, whether committed by the Governments',
groups or individuals, in any part of the world. We must endeavor
to make the world free of violence, terrorism, hatred and vengeance.
However, my heart throbs for Pakistan. Blood within my veins gushes
for Sindh. Annexation of 17 villages of Sindh to the province of
Punjab by the colonialists and expansionists Establishment will not
be tolerated. If, expansionism of Punjab to the detriment of Sindh
continues, I swear, Mohajirs and Sindhis will have no alternative
but to seek the right to self-determination. Kalabagh Dam will never
be built. Due shares of Sindh under the NFC and in other spheres of
life including employment must be attained.
The President of Pakistan General Parvez Musharraf, on his trip to
the United States and Turkey, repeatedly said that Afghanistan is a
multi-ethnic country. All ethno-linguistic and cultural groups shall
be included in the broad-based government. He repeatedly cited the
"Pashtun" segment. Similarly, the religious parties and
Jihadi groups claimed that they would not accept the Government of
the Northern Alliance or any one nation. They persist that a
broad-based government in Afghanistan should be formulated in which
all ethno-linguistic groups should be represented including the
"Pashtun". There is a "Hadith" in which the
prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said, "You should only preach what you
practice". Parvez Musharraf should form a broad-based
government in Pakistan, first, before preaching for a broad-based
government in Afghanistan. All the ethno-linguistic groups of
Pakistan should be equitably represented not only in the governance
of the state but also in all walks of life including the Army and
other institutions. He should also make public announcement in
regards to giving equal rights to all the ethno-linguistic cultural
minorities of Pakistan including the religious minorities. The
religious minorities should be incorporated into the "Joint
Electoral System" instead of voting rights under "Separate
Electoral System".
The present and past ruling oligarchies, Punjabi Establishment and
the political and religious leaders claimed that those seeking
rights on the basis of ethnicity are the agents of Jews, Christians
and the Hindus and also anti-Islam. They also claim that in Islam,
there is no ethnicity and having recited the "Kalama"
(verse) the ethno-linguistic and cultural identity transcends into
one identity that is Islam. The same religious and political parties
that proclaimed nationhood on the basis of Islam are now advocating
the formation of a broad-based government in Afghanistan and the
inclusion of "Pashtun" alongside of the other ethnicities.
I had been all along telling that religion does not supersede
ethno-linguistic and cultural affinities and religions do not form
nations. I challenge the religious and political leaders to have a
public debate with me over this subject.
Nations are born in accordance with the teachings and maxims of the
revered and blessed saint of Sindh, Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai RH that
the land of Sindh belongs to people who live on it whether he is a
Hindu, Christian or Muslim or non-Muslim. This land is the land of
those who live on permanent basis and it provides sanctuary to
people belonging to all faith under her wings. The ideology of
religion is not dependent on the geographical boundaries and those
confine it into geographical boundaries, commit wrong. I ask the
Jihadi and religious groups who claim of the renaissance of Islam
and hoisting of Pakistani flag on the Red Fort of Delhi shall not
make Sindh, a centre of their fanaticism and go to Punjab to
carryout their terrorism and patronization of the terrorists. They
claim Lahore as the heart of Pakistan but demonstrate in Karachi.
I re-iterate that the permanent citizens of Sindh are united on the
issues of the Kalabagh Dam and NFC Award and on the injustice practiced
against them in other sectors including employment and
recruitment in the Army and other national institutions. I call upon
the Establishment of Punjab that if a single village of Gothki were
annexed to Punjab then the people of Sindh would not like to live
with Pakistan. I do not care if another case of treason is
registered against me on this account. If those villages are annexed
to Punjab then we will struggle in unison and snatch those villages
back to form the part of Sindh, again.
The MQM is brining political awareness amongst the permanent
citizens of Sindh and building bridges to narrow the gap between
Sindhis and Mohajirs. The understanding and harmony between both the
communities is being harnessed and an understanding of this is
developing amongst Mohajirs and Sindhis. "Divide and Rule"
policy of the rulers and feudal oligarchy will not work any more and
nor would the process of colonization of Sindh. The grass roots
Sindhis are joining the MQM and a realization is dawning upon both
that a unified struggle is now inevitable against the common enemy.
The Mohajirs have accepted Sindhis as a ground reality in Sindh and
Sindhi brethren should also accept Mohajirs as a ground reality, we
both have to live and die for Sindh. We must choose the way of
compromise over conflict. We must remember that united we stand and
divided we fall. If we remain divided, both Mohajirs and Sindhis
would never get their rights and the Establishment of Punjab will
continually rule over us and we will continually remain as its
salves. We have to choose freedom over slavery.
Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Speech given by Mr. Anwar on behalf of Mr. Altaf Hussain who could
not attend the function because of his brother- in-law's serious
health condition.
Organizers: World Sindhi Congress & Baloch Voice (Sindhi
Baloch forum)
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