HYDERABAD A conference organised by the Save Sindh Movement here on Tuesday called for a new social contract among the federating units on the basis of 1940 Resolution as it considered it as the only viable way to save the country.
Speaking on the occasion, National Party Senator Mir Hasil Bizenjo said that an alliance (of nationalist forces) could address the national question within democratic parameters as mere resolutions would not work. He said that the establishment is still siding with slogan of 'Jihad fi Sabilillah' and there is no distinction between generals of 1954 and present ones. He said “The generals are still following the characters created by Nasim Hijjazi.”
He said that 1940 Resolution appeared to have become rhetorical now and said that no one was discussing fundamental points.
About the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, he said that political parties should focus on re-delimitations of constituencies that were got done by the MQM during Jam Sadiq regime. “MQM created its own constituencies while trampling over rights of others”, he said.
Balochistan National Party general secretary Jahenzeb Baloch's criticism of army was too scathing. He said that padlocked coffin of late Nawab Akbar Bugti was given to Baloch people and it was something which even Britishers didn't do.
He said that as per UN's statistics 85,000 internally displaced people are living in Sindh after leaving Dera Bugti and Kohlu. He charged that Taliban is the extension of army.
Nationalist leader Rasool Bux Palijo said that people say that Sindhi and Baloch are brothers but nobody says who sent Arghuns to invade Sindh. “Baloch consider themselves powerful but are they able to create a state of their own,” he asked.
He said that religion was used by Britishers and Sikhs also and everything should be seen on its merits. He stated that secularism is not a heavenly thing.
PML-Q MNA Marvi Memon said the country needed issue-based consensus politics, adding “I support core social contract with maximum provincial autonomy to strengthen the federation.”
She said that everyone knew that there is disharmony that's why it was need of the hour to strengthen provinces to strengthen federation and for inter provincial harmony consensus is essential.
She backed the demand of an independent election commission, and said that discrimination always led to discord.
She said that Senate must approve all bills, and supported provincial autonomy as per Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah's popular June 3, 1947 plan. “We need to move forward for a just, moderate and progressive Pakistan”, she stated.
Workers Party's Yusuf Masti Khan urged the nationalist forces of Sindh to clear their own distortions and contradictions first.
He cautioned people of Sindh and Balochistan not to be complacent about changing international and regional situation.
He said that US imperialism wanted to embed itself in the region because of gas and oil reserves. He said that US prefers its interests always for which it could pit different nations against each other.
He alleged that on one hand Taliban were being exterminated and, on the other, Jundullah - a wing of al Qaeda - is being backed against Iran by the government.
He said that regional situation is grim because China was trying to corner India and USA wanted to contain China in the area. He proposed that a closed door sessions of different “nations” should be held to prepare a draft.
Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah of the Sindh United Party said that Pakistan Resolution was backed by people of Sindh in euphuism of autonomy because at that time Sindh was just separated from Bombay and people wanted to legislate on their own issues.
He referred to three distortions of the state as mixing up of religion with state, poor relations with neighbouring countries and denial of identity to different “nations.” He said that Pakistan had been made a security state.
He rapped proposals of Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms which denies identity to nations. So far, he said, three parties - PML, army and PPP - had ruled over the country while others served as coalition partners and these regimes produced controlled democracy which is always bound to fail.
He said that if democracy is the name of majority then the rights of smaller provinces could not be protected. He said that a federation that is not based on equality and justice couldn't deliver.
Zamir Ghumro of Sindh Dost Rabta Council criticised the role of Sindh government's role in NFC and that of Balochistan and NWFP for siding with Punjab on NFC issue.
He said administrative, political and financial autonomy had been mortgaged by parliamentarians of Sindh.
Shah Mohammad Shah said “We are ready to sacrifice presidency over Sindh”. He said that present democracy was a gift of US imperialism and called for setting the direction of national struggle in Sindh
