HYDERABAD, Nov 22: On the call of the Save Sindh Resources Committee, demonstrations were held in several parts of Sindh on Saturday in protest against the proposed privatisation of natural resources of the province and the victimisation of SUP workers for holding a protest demonstration on this issue outside the residence of federal Privatisation Minister Syed Naveed Qamar.

In Hyderabad, a protest demonstration was held outside the press club. Speaking on the occasion, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz leaders Riaz Chandio and Hajan Jatoi, Sindh United Party leaders Dodo Mahri and Abdul Salam Rajput, said that all the resources of Sindh were the property of people of Sindh and the federation had no right whatsoever to dispose of these resources.

They said whenever the PPP was not in power, it always raised its voice to protect the rights and resources of Sindh but when it came into power, it always forgot its commitments.

They demanded that the ownership of Sindh’s resources should immediately be transferred to Sindh and the income of these should be spent on the development and prosperity of Sindh.

They warned that if any attempt was made to loot and plunder the resources, the committee would launch a multi-dimensional struggle to resist any such move.

Meanwhile, the convener of the Save Sindh Resources Committee has announced that protest demonstrations would continue throughout Sindh in protest against the proposed privatisation of natural resources of Sindh and police excesses against the SUP workers.

In a statement, he said that although the government has stopped the auction of Qadirpur gas field, but this was only for the time being. He claimed that the present government had also announced the shelving of the Kalabagh dam but the people of Sindh have their reservations over this announcement.

He said in due course of time, the government would go ahead with the auction of Sindh’s resources for which the people should be prepared mentally and physically. He said the resources of Sindh cannot be protected unless full provincial autonomy was restored for the federating units.

In Shikarpur, a rally was taken out by the workers of the committee.

The rally started from Mushwani House and after marching on various roads reached in front of the local press club where protesters staged a demonstration.

Speaking on the occasion, the committee leaders demanded of the federal government to withdraw all such orders and shelve the projects of privatisation of natural resources and other properties of the province.

They further demanded that all the natural resources of Sindh be given to the province as the people of Sindh were the real heirs of these resources. They threatened to continue their protest till the acceptance of their demands.

In Nawabshah district, activists of various nationalist parties took out a rally and staged a demonstration in Sakrand. The rally started from Wapda Colony and after passing on the main roads, ended at Sahafi chowk.

The protesters, including workers of SUP, JSQM, JSM, JSMM and other parties carried banners and placards and raised slogans against the government.

Speaking on the occasion, Sarmad Mirani, Hafeez Sindhi, Waryam Sanjrani, Usman Lakho and others said that the natural resources of Sindh were being sold through a planned conspiracy.

They said that the rulers of Sindh were also playing the role of enemy of the soil and were selling Sindh but the people of Sindh would resist any such move.

They said that the rights of Sindh were being usurped for the last 60 years and only one province was enjoying all the facilities and benefits.

Protesting against the proposed privatisation of Qadirpur gas field, Pakistan Steel and other profitable institutions, SUP activists took out a procession in Larakana.

Haji Manzoor Kalhoro convener of ‘save natural resources’, Ms Sheeba Mazhar Mughal and others led the procession while the participants carrying banners and placards demonstrated outside the Jinnahbagh.

They criticised the PPP for its duplicity as it always stood by Punjab when in power while adopted the role of a strong supporter of Sindh’s resources and behaved like a nationalist party. They alleged that present government was befooling the youth under the youth training programme and was unable even to pay them the honorarium.

The SUP leaders said that they would not allow the present government to sell out Sindh’s natural resources. Sindh would prosper if they were made the masters of their resources and accused the rulers for selling Sindh resources only to meet their needs which the SUP would not tolerate, they pledged.