HYDERABAD, Jan 3: Chairman of the Sindh Taraqi Passand Party, Dr.Qadir Magsi, and chairman of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, Mohammad Ali Shah, have jointly appealed to the people of Sindh as well as the businessmen to observe a complete strike on January 10 throughout the province to protest against the sale of two islands of Sindh to a foreign company.
According to reports, Mohammad Ali Shah met with Dr.Qadir Magsi at Taraqi Passand House on Sunday night and the two leaders decided to evolve a joint strategy to stop the sale of the islands.
They were of the opinion that the sale of islands was a conspiracy to divide Sindh. They claimed that only two years back, the naval chief had said that the coastal area of Sindh was the dire need of the province. They said that at the instance of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, MQM, conspiracies were being hatched to create a new province and the sale of two islands was a step in this direction.
Therefore, they said, to launch a struggle to save the islands would be in fact a struggle to save Sindh. They appealed to all patriotic forces and the people of Sindh to join this struggle. They claimed that Sindh had 300 islands and warned that if the sale of Dindi and Bhidhar islands was not suspended immediately, all the other islands will also be sold out one by one.
It was decided that all the nationalist leaders and the leaders of other political parties, who were opposed to the sale, will jointly visit the islands and evolve a joint strategy.
They appealed to the people of Sindh and business communities to observe a complete strike on January 10.
ARREST DEMANDED: The Sindh chapter of the Shia Ulema Council has criticised the Sindh government for failing to ensure arrest of the murderers of Allama Hassan Turabi, the former provincial president of the council, and delaying payment of compensation to his heirs.
Speaking at a news conference at the press club on Wednesday, the provincial president of the council, Allama Syed Qambar Abbas Naqvi, vice-president Syed Kazim Hussain Shah Naqvi and others said that Allama Turabi, an exponent of unity among Muslims, was murdered in cold blood by the terrorists six months ago but the culprits had not been arrested yet.
They said that it showed inefficiency of the police department and insensitivity of the Sindh government which had even failed to pay compensation to the bereaved family.
They said that the council, which had held its meeting in Tando Jehania, had resolved that no hurdles in the way of mourning processions during Muharram would be tolerated nor any changes in the routes of the processions would be allowed.
They warned that if any attempt was made to change the routes of the processions, then the mourners would stage a sit-in till the original routes were restored.
They said that under the law and constitution of the country, they had the right to perform Azadari (mourning the martyrs of Karbala) with freedom.
They made it clear that although there was no provision of obtaining any route permit under the law, they were following the practice in vogue.
Allama Naqvi said that in cooperation with other schools of thought, they would support the government agencies in maintaining law and order. He, however, said that it was the duty of security forces to protect the mourners without creating any harassment.
He said that under instructions from Millat-i-Jafria Pakistan leader Allama Sajid Naqvi, Azadari cells at provincial, divisional, district, taluka and union council level had been set up which would coordinate with the administration round the clock.
He urged the authorities to make foolproof arrangements to protect the mourners and maintain vigilance on the miscreants.
He said that to create the spirit of unity, the council would hold Azadari conferences in Jamshoro on January 14 and in Hyderabad on 18.
He demanded that special arrangements to protect mosques, Imam Bargahs and shrines as well as the religious leaders of all schools of thought throughout Sindh during Muharram.
He criticised the Hyderabad district government for having dug up all mourning procession routes in the name of development and said that the situation had created resentment and provocation among the Azadars of Hyderabad. He demanded that all the mourning procession routes should be repaired and levelled.
Allama Nazvi warned Wapda not to create any disturbances in the Majalis on the pretext of loadshedding. He demanded that big generators should be provided at all the central places where Majalis would be held and street lighting be ensured.
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