HYDERABAD: Left wing activists and writers paid homage to their leader, Comrade Jam Saqi, at a programme held in Sindh Museum on Thursday night to commemorate his seventh death anniversary.

Speaking to the audience, Prof Imdad Chandio said that Saqi was a selfless man; he was a ‘new chapter’ in Pakistan’s politics. “Sindh today needs such people,” he said, and recalled that Saqi led a glorious political life which started with his struggle against a dictator.

Prof Chandio said that today a unified struggle was needed to make the authorities concerned to resolve the water issue. He believed that success could not be achieved without a mass struggle. He pointed out that it was not merely a water issue, but Sindh was facing existential threat.

He said Sindh created Pakistan but in the present framework of the country, Sindh faced consistent attacks that forced people to think whether they had erred in joining Pakistan. He said some actions of Sindh government were doubtful. “Communists in Pakistan had struggled for democracy; they would never accept dictatorship,” he remarked.

Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Zamir Ghumro described Saqi as a ‘revolutionary’ who believed in national and democratic movement. He said that Saqi was part of the struggle against ‘One Unit’ started by students on March 4,1967. He added that Hyder Bux Jatoi produced poetry against One Unit during the struggle. He said that Sindh had always faced injustices on water issue.

He said the Water Accord 1991 was signed during Jam Sadiq government.

Senator Ghumro said that no bargain would take place over disputed canals; their construction would not be allowed. He said no political entity could carry burden of becoming party to the canals construction. He said if any decision was thrust upon Sindh by Islamabad, it would not be accepted.

He said the 26th Constitutional Amend­ment was being opposed but it was aimed at ensuring equal representation of four provinces in Supreme Court.

Former senator Sassui Palijo said Jam Saqi had opposed all dictators ever since his student life. She said that Saqi’s struggle was reflective of his attachment with the soil of Thar. She added that voice of Sindh’s representative in Irsa was not being heard. “A dacoity on Sindh’s water is being committed through the new canals,” she added.

She said if federal government didn’t shelve this plan, then PPP should withdraw its support for it.

Women Action Forum activist Amar Sindhu said that Saqi had stood for people’s interests, and not for personal ones. She said today struggle against canals was under way and a movement like the agitation over Kalabagh dam project was needed to be launched. Such a struggle required collective leadership, she said.

Sindh Hari Committee President Samar Jatoi, Hyderabad Mayor Kashif Shoro and Bakhtawar Jam (Saqi’s daughter), also spoke.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2025