Chicago IL: The second rally organized by the World Sindhi Institute and endorsed by the World Sindhi Congress, Sindhi Association of North America, and Baloch Society of North America, Baloch International Human Rights and Friends of South Asia took place in Chicago in front of the Pakistani consulate at 333 Michigan Avenue. Participated by sindhis, baloch, pashtun and other democracy loving Pakistanis and North American supporters, the rally was well covered by local as well as international media representatives. In freezing temperatures participants turned out to protest on Lincoln Day.
 
Raising slogans against the military and in favor of democracy the rally participants held up placards condemning the current military operation and occupation of Balochistan and the planned mega dams on the river Indus. The military  dictatorship of  general Musharraf  came under special attack as the participants raised  emotional  and angry slogans demanding the restoration of democracy and an end to military rule.
 
The first speaker was Mr. Rasool Bux Palijo who flew in especially from Sindh to attend the rallies at the invitation of the WSI. “This is not the Pakistan of Mohammed Ali Jinnah or the Pakistan envisaged by the constituent units of the federation. We joined Pakistan to live in a democracy where we could have control over our own resources and enjoy our own cultural heritage without fear or hindrance. Today Sindh and Balochistan are under military occupation and our most fertile lands have been given as grants to military officers as reward for their service in rendering Sindh and Balochistan to subjugation.”
 
Malek Towghi of Baloch Human Rights International thanked the World Sindhi Institute and said that the Baloch and Sindhi stand united in their quest for democracy.
 
Ishaq Tunio of  FOTRI  recited a sindhi nationalist song the gist of  which evoked a remembrance of the  sweet soil of Sindh which has been rendered dry by the dams. All those present were very touched by the song which was sung with a beautiful melody.
 
Iqbal Tareen Sindhi human rights activist from Texas said that Sindh was the the first province that joined Pakistan and can therefore rightfully claim status as the mother of Pakistan. “Today sindhis stand accused of being separatists. How can a mother want to leave her own child?”  he said. “We sindhis are being pushed out and accused of disloyalty whereas it is the military -civilian bureaucracy- mullah nexus of Pakistan that is condemning our very existence. We believe in the original federation that Pakistan was supposed to be and that respected the legitimate rights of its federating units. We are going to remain within Pakistan and fight for the rights guaranteed to us under the 1940 resolution”
 
Humaira Rahman director of WSI Canada said that since 1947 the military has controlled and hijacked the political economy of Pakistan. “All the peoples of Pakistan the sindhi , baloch , pushtun , seraiki and poor punjabis are all very very tired of the military  that has impoverished the indigenous peoples  and denied them  basic freedoms. Today women in Pakistan are subjected to archaic laws that encourage rape and violence against women. These laws were brought in by a military dictator who usurped power”
 
Munawar Laghari speaking in Sindhi thanked all the speakers and participants and concluded by saying “Jeay Sindh”  and Long live Sindhi Balochi unity.

* Click here to see the pictures

Sindhis of Sindh, in southeastern Pakistan.