MITHI: Leaders of Communist Party of Pakistan and Sindh Hari Committee have accused executives of mining firms engaged in coal extraction in different blocks of Thar Coalfields of failing to fulfill their commitments with the villagers who had to leave their homes and hearths due to massive mining in their area.

They said that unbridled greed of corporate sector had always brought miseries upon real owners of natural resources, minerals and fertile lands instead of ushering in any real progress. People in backward areas like Thar had been affected beyond repair and remedial measures, they said.

They were speaking at a moot titled Jo khere so khae (One who tills land has foremost right to eat), a popular slogan raised by 17th century Sufi saint Shah Inayat Shaheed, in Islamkot town on Sunday.

CPP general secretary Comrade Imdad Qazi, historian Dr Mubarak Ali, Dr Riaz Ahmed Shaikh, Gulab Pirzado, Mir Munawar Talpur, Comrade Iqbal, Damromal, Dhayal Meghwar and others warned managers of mining firms to stop treating owners of ‘black gold’ like step-children of state.

They said that after having usurped peoples’ resources the rulers were now hatching conspiracies to plunder the remaining resources. The latest move by the federal government to occupy islands of Sindh was not only unconstitutional but also a naked aggression against resources of indigenous people, they said.

They lashed out at the federal government for its failure to address grievances of farmers, who were protesting against ill-conceived agricultural policies and import of tomatoes, onions and other vegetables.

They asked the government to take action against those, who were involved in land grabbing and depriving peasants of their rights in their share in the harvest.

They alleged that people of backward areas like Thar were being pushed to the wall and displaced in the name of so-called prosperity and progress. Teachings of Sufi Shah Inayat were beacon of light for all those who believed in human values and peoples’ right over their resources and land, they said.

They said that it was very disappointing to know that people in Thar were compelled to commit suicide and expressed deep concern over unchecked exploitation of the weak and the underprivileged segments of society.

They said that feudalistic mindset of usurping rights of the downtrodden and the underprivileged was still a big obstacle to an ideal and people friendly society.

They expressed deep grief over tragic incidents in the troubled areas of the country and asked the state institutions to provide foolproof security to vulnerable communities living across the country.

“Massacre of Hazara community is nothing but genocide of the people of a peace-loving community,” they said and demanded protection for all people living across the country.

They lashed out at Indian forces for atrocities against people of held-Kashmir and demanded international human rights bodies raise their voice for the freedom of people of the occupied territory.

Earlier, the moot’s participants took out a rally from Murshid Petrol Pump to Islamkot Press Club where they also staged a demonstration.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2021