World Sindhi Institute, USA
Press Release
February 21, 2006

Rally for Rights in Houston

Houston, Texas 20th February 2006:  The World Sindhi Institute’s 3rd rally in North America took place in front of   the Pakistan Consulate at 11850 Jones Street Houston Texas.
 
Organized by the World Sindhi Institute with the cooperation and endorsement   of the World Sindhi Congress and the Sindhi Association of North America as well as the Baloch Society of North America, friends of South Asia, Baloch Human Rights International.  Emotional slogans were raised against the military government of Pakistan along with a vociferous demand for restoration of democracy. “No more military rule” “No more dams”   and “Jeay Sindh” were some of the slogans raised.
 
Rasool Bux Palijo a prominent Sindhi leader spoke eloquently   about the fact that the Quaid e Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah had envisaged a very different Pakistan from the one that the generals of Pakistan military recreated to serve their own interests.  Jinnah’s Pakistan retained only foreign affairs, defense and defense related communication for the centre with all other powers including control of natural resources to the federating units. Today every province is occupied by the Pakistan military and revenue from all natural resources are flowing to the ruling elite. Although none of the water accords have granted Sindh a fair share   Sindh is not receiving water even according to these. Sindh is dying from a shortage of water.
 
Jameel Daudi vice  president of  SANA  said that the military operation against our  baloch brothers will not be tolerated by sindhis ; it is highly unfair that  the  resources of Balochistan  are not benefiting the Baloch people but are instead benefiting rich industrialists and the military. The Kalabagh dam if constructed will destroy Sindh. We will not allow any further dams on the river Indus.
Umed Ali Laghari a leader from World Sindhi Congress speaking with great enthusiasm said in clear terms: Sindh and Sindhi are united.   We will not tolerate a high way robbery of our legitimate rights.
 
Noorunisa Ghangro Sindhi community activist said that mega dams have caused a lot of devastation in the world. We are against all such dams. In particular we are against the dams on the Sindhu. The river Indus is Sindh’s mother; we will never stop struggling to revive the flow of the Indus through Sindh.
 
Sohail Qazi of the Peoples Party of Pakistan also spoke on the occasion.
Humaira Rahman, Director Canada, for World Sindhi Institute said that the military of Pakistan has hijacked the political economy of Pakistan and used it to benefit itself. However, the winds of change are now blowing in Sindh and Balochistan.  Sindhis, Baloch, Pushtun, Seraiki and Punjabi as well as all other ethnic groups in Pakistan are now very aware of the military’s role in Pakistan and can no longer be fooled.
 
Mashooq Malaah representative of World Sindhi Institute in Houston, Texas condemned the military operation in Balochistan. He also condemned the proposed dams on the river Indus. He further said that the Sindhi community abroad plays a very important role in the support of the struggle for rights within Sindh. Today we have shown our unity and we pledge to remain united for our beloved Sindh.
 
Munawar Laghari Executive Director WSI thanked the participants, speakers and all supporters and concluded with the prayer: Jeay Sindh.
 
For more information, please call 202-223-1777 or email us at wsihq@worldsindhi.org. Visit www.worldsindhi.org for more information.