Date Apr 28, 2007 11:12 PM
Subject: Changing Political Alliances and Sindhi Interests - Time to get Real
Piyara Dosto,
The recent acknowledgment by PPP chairperson Ms Benazir Bhutto implying that there could be a deal between Musharraf (military) and her (PPP) poses interesting challenges for native Sindhis. It is said that a 70 to 80% of native Sindhis vote solidly for PPP. However, traditionally, Sindhis and Pakistan military have not been on best of terms. The changing political alliance thus raises an important question about how such a "deal" would impact the interests of native Sindhis? Does such a "deal" mean that Benazir Bhutto has forsaken their interests and compromise the murders of some of their heroes Z. A. Bhutto (her father) and her two brothers or would this deal protect Sindhi rights and usher an era of affirmative action programs to eliminate heart-wrenching poverty from the interior of Sindh? My view is that it is not easy to predict what this deal would do to Sindhi interests. One thing is certain that these are very critical times for the survival of Sindhi identity in Sindh. I believe that future would not hold well for Sindhi interests if PPP sacrifices Sindhi identity and Sindhi Rights in order to become a partner in power for the gain of few individual waders and their families and friends. If however, PPP does take the enormous responsibility and trust that Sindhi masses have placed in it with utmost seriousness and makes the protection of Sindhi rights as one of its focused goals, we (native Sindhis) may see some positive improvements.
The semi-adversarial relationship between military and native Sindhis has developed for a variety reasons. Sindhis are critical of military because of Pakistan military's reluctance in hiring and promoting Sindhis in its cadres; imposing dictatorship and killing democracy and its institutions; taking ownership of million acres of newly irrigated lands in Sindh through military grants; and hanging of Z. A,. Bhutto (considered a mythical hero by Sindhi masses) at the hands of a military dictator. Military discriminates against Sindhis because a vast majority of native Sindhis abhor violence, militancy, and religious non-tolerance and because decades after the murder of Z. A. Bhutto, Sindhis continue to be a backbone of PPP's electoral strength.
The native Sindhis must realize that they no longer have a simple spectrum of challenges that their benevolent wadera leadership could either easily address or put a convincing spin on their non-resolution. These days, there are no moral, legal, or ethical boundaries that hold others from plundering their resources and taking away their jobs and opportunities. The rule of "Jeko Dhadho so Gabo" remains the supreme law of Pakistan. The examples and signs of inability of native Sindhis to get their due rights are every where. Their royalties, employment representation in oil, gas and other industries located in Sindh's heartland remains lower than in any other country. The quantity and quality of educational and employment opportunities and health facilities and poverty in rural Sindh is worse among all provinces except in Balochistan. In spite of existing laws that protect Sindhi language as the first language of the province, example of disregard of these laws by the government and private sector in Karachi and Hyderabad remain unprecedented. Now even the Sindhi villages are being demolished and the doors to educational and employment opportunities to native Sindhis are being closed in Karachi. It is ironic that native Sindhis have become lost in their own homeland.
The native Sindhis must realize that their bias for non-violence, non-confrontation, and blind trust in PPP may be working against them and the status quo will continue unless they organize themselves focusing on their interests and start putting pressure on military, PPP, or others (who are/will be partners in power) to secure their economic, political, human, and water rights. This is not the time to get ourselves entangled with so called "federal" issues that have no direct bearing on Sindhi interests. The time to focus on Sindhi interests:and time to unify for the protection of Sindhi Rights is NOW!
Thanks,
Khalid Hashmani
McLean, Virginia, USA
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