A large number of activists of the Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM) – a banned Sindhi organisation in Pakistan, participated in a protest in Hyderabad demanding independence for Sindh province. They also demanded the release of Sindhi political activists abducted and enforced disappeared by the Pakistani Army and its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) wing.
The rally started from Sindh University (Old Campus) and ended at the District Press Club, Hyderabad. Protestors showed placards that demanded total independence for Sindh. They also urged the United Nations, international community and human rights organisations to take notice of acts of Fascism, state torture, atrocities, besides exploitation of the region’s rich natural resources.
The protesters questioned the authorities over enforced disappearances and killings of Sindhi freedom activists chanting slogans against Pakistani occupation, exploitation, and brutality.
#WATCH: Anti Pakistan protests erupt in Sindh; demand for an independent Sindh raised. pic.twitter.com/oiSKmYMqxb
— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2017
Exiled JSMM Chairman Shafi Burfat said, “The independence movement of Sindh has been struggling for the restoration of its historic nationally independent identity. Today, Sindh is under theocratic fascist Punjabi occupation in Pakistan in the name of Islam. The Sindhi independence movement is fighting its case on diplomatic and international fronts effectively and the sacrifices, painstaking struggle and voice is gaining international acknowledgment for the historic, ideological and practical perspectives of the ‘Sindh Case’ in front of the international community and the entire civilised world today.”
“And, that’s why Pakistani theocratic, fascist military establishment, army, its savage agency ISI and Rangers (paramilitary forces) have imposed a ban on the JSMM and are practising ruthless barbaric torture against Sindhi political activists by abducting, enforced disappearing, torturing and killing them,” he added.
He also condemned ‘state torture of protesters,’ describing it as “an open violation of the right to freedom of expression and speech”. He appealed to the international community to take instant notice of the army prompted action against ‘Sindhi political activists.’
“Sindhi political activists are being hunted, persecuted, abducted, enforced disappeared and killed, and even if someone raises his or her voice to appeal to the international community to take action against these Pakistani atrocities, he or she too is tortured, arrested, abducted, enforced disappeared and then killed,” he said.
