HYDERABAD, March 23: A conference convened by the Awami Tehrik on Thursday demanded that new elections should be held for a constituent assembly in the light of March 23, 1940 and May 12, 1946 resolutions to ensure equal rights to federating units.

The conference, on the topic of “Past, present and future of Pakistan”, appointed a 14-member committee to mobilize public opinion for enforcement of “sovereign” and “autonomous” federating units as envisaged by Muslim League leaders in the 1940 resolution.

Awami Tehrik chief Rasool Bux Palijo said that Sindh had joined Pakistan according to the 1940 resolution and it wanted its rights within the framework of the resolution.

He said that Sindh was being victimized for the last 150 years but unfortunately the rulers had no inkling about the excesses the Sindhi nation had faced during the ages.

He called upon the people to beware of evil designs of unconscionable and opportunist feudal lords of Sindh.

He said that the anti-people leaders had destroyed the country and called upon the Sindhi nation to open their eyes to the impending dangers.

He said that the rulers, who had violated the 1973 Constitution, had become the owners of Pakistan.

He urged the Sindhi nation to remain steadfast and snatch their rights from the usurpers.

Professor Mushtaq Mirani said that if the Sindhi nation failed to take correct decisions at this crucial time, it would be subjugated forever.

He said that the 1940 resolution was an agreement between provinces and Sindh should raise the issue at the international level that Punjab had violated the covenant.

He said that a few politicians had no importance before 40 million Sindhis and they should declare it unequivocally that they were not prepared to accept slavery.

Professor Mirani said that the historic importance of the 1940 resolution must be accepted and Sindh must be given all rights in accordance with the resolution.

Rasool Bux Unnar, advocate, said that the 1940 resolution was absolutely unambiguous and it was clearly stated in it that federating units of Pakistan would be and “autonomous”.

Ayaz Latif Palijo, advocate, stressed the need for keeping an eye on those elements, who were always ready to enter into bargain for the sake of power.

He said that the resistance in Waziristan and Balochistan and protests by tens of thousands of people of Sindh had proved beyond doubt that the establishment had become very weak.

Jami Chandio, Muzaffar Sadiq Bhatti, Nazeer Memon, PTI leader Zubair, Hindu Panchayat leader S. Lal Ahuja, SNC leader Punhal Sario and Sindhiani Tehrik leader Nazeer Qureshi also spoke on the occasion.

The conference adopted a resolution calling for enforcement of the 1940 resolution that had guaranteed complete sovereignty and autonomy to provinces.

It said that the resolution had been completely violated and demanded that on the basis of equality, a new constituent assembly should be appointed which should guarantee the implementation of the March 23, 1940 and May 12, 1946 resolutions.

The conference demanded that conspiracies to hand over the right of governance to terrorists and unconscionable feudal lords should be stopped.