World Sindhi Institute, USA
Press Release
February 27, 2006

Rally for Rights in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA 27th February 2006: Sindhi activists, housewives and children , members of World Sindhi Institute , SANA members, World Sindhi Congress and many other democracy loving Pakistanis gathered today to register their protest in front of the Pakistan Consulate, at 10850 Wilshire Road Los Angeles .

In pouring rain , silently and with determination , wearing symbolic and traditional ajrak scarves young and old , men and women , children and adults gathered to pay homage to their beloved homeland Sindh. In solidarity with their fellow oppressed nations, they held placards in support of Baloch brethren, against military operations ,mega dams, against corrupt generals and the desertification in Sindh caused by lop sided self serving policies. Saghir Shaikh of WSC , Suraya Panhwar of SANA spoke out against the atrocities committed by the military and the human rights violations being committed on a daily basis by the military government.

Munawar Laghari , Executive Director of the World Sindhi Institute, said that when we the oppressed nations of Pakistan speak in favor of women’s rights we are labeled as “anti Islam”; when we speak out against military dictatorship , we are labeled as “anti-state” , when we demand human rights we are told that “Sindhis and Baloch are unpatriotic” ; today we have reached a stage where we no longer care what labels the generals give us; time will show who we really are and history will record who the generals were. He demanded the release of Dr Safdar Sarki , who was arrested and incarcerated last week in Karachi.

Humaira Rahman Director of World Sindhi Institute in Canada, said that we are gathered here today to tell the people of the United States of America that they are being fooled by the military government of Pakistan . Instead of a war against terror and against fundamentalism another war is being conducted ; it is a war against the fundamental rights of the people of Pakistan specially against the legitimate rights of Sindhis, Baloch , Seraikis , Pushtun’s and the poor of Punjab by a privileged and self serving ruling military class . Every two hours a woman is raped in Pakistan but the archaic laws introduced by previous military regimes remain unchanged and rapists go free. Mega dams have already desertified Sindh , yet more are planned to irrigate the land holdings of the officers of the military. Since 1947 the military has controlled Pakistan’s economy and have given away the richest lands in Sindh as reward to officers of the military. However, she said, things have now changed . There is a renaissance in Sindh and Sindhis are no longer prepared to be pushed around. We are united and will continue to struggle for our rights.

Mr Rasool Bux Palijo, thanked the World Sindhi Institute for inviting him on this tour of successive rallies in the cities of North America. He said Sindh’s waters have been stolen again and again and once more yet another military government threatens further dams . We are patriotic democracy loving people yet whenever we demand our rights we are regarded as anti Pakistan; we reject the Pakistan that is created and run by the military ; we want Jinnah’s Pakistan , the original and pure Pakistan that was created on the basis of the 1940 resolution, in which the center was granted the portfolios of currency, defence and defence related communication. All other matters were vested in the autonomous governments of the federating units. The people of Sindh will not rest until our land and our rights are restored.

The participants held up placards “ water is for life not fro death” , “stop mega dams” , “the military generals of Pakistan are corrupt” . They raised slogans demanding an end to military rule and restoration of democracy.Rasool Bux Palijo and Humaira Rahman presented a memorandum addressed to the Consulate General to a representative of the consulate who promised to forward it to the central government in Islamabad .

Munawar Laghari thanked the local sindhi community who hosted the WSI team for their support and affection. In particular Saleem Ursani, Shabbir Jatoi, Saleem Langha , Sani and Suraya Panhwar , Malik Dino Shaikh, Sagheer Shaikh , Rahman Kakepoto, Eijaz Sayed , Hasan Mujtaba and Seema Qureshi, Rahman Laghari, Raheem Laghari , Amar Punhwari , Mr Adnan Nazeer Bhurgri and others .

For more information, please call 202-223-1777 or email us at wsihq@worldsindhi.org. Visit www.worldsindhi.org for more information.