Sindhis of
North America celebrate 25th Convention with gusto and an eye on future
generation
By: Khalid Hashmani
St. Louis - July 6, 2009 -
The 25th convention of Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) was
successfully ended in St. Louis , Missouri today. It was a historic event with
more than 500 registered attendees. The programs included Adabi (Literary)
session, SANA Vision Brainstorming session, several medical seminars, women
programs, speaker's forums, and General Body meeting of SANA members. One of the
most important aspect of the convention was extra-ordinary musical, fashion, and
plays organized and acted by Sindhi youth depicting conflicts and convergence of
the cultures of their new country and their parents' Sindhi heritage. Indeed it
was like witnessing passing of baton from the grey hair generation to the young
adult generation of North American Sindhis.
Dr. Mazhar Siddiqui, Vice Chancellor of Sindh University spoke in several
sessions sharing his wisdom and candidness about the educational and economic
challenges faced by Sindhis in Sindh. Mr. Nisar Ali Khuoro (Speaker of Sindh
Assembly) impressed the audience with his forceful defense of the current
government led by Pakistan People's Party (PPP). Mr. Nazir Essani, an irrigation
specialist from Sindh with focus on social aspects explained intriguing details
about about the long term impact of lack of water on Sindh. Seeing young medical
doctors like Mehdi Qalbani, Mr. Shaikh, and Adnan Qalbani explaining complicated
medical issues in a scholarly manner not only helped old generation audience but
also inspired high school students to pursue excellence in their fields of
choice.
The activities organized by the "Family Network" group introduced many families
and creating many long lasting friendships. The two nights of Sindhi songs,
music, and poetry brought much spiritual relief from day's hectic activities. A
session on Shah Abdul Latif became a spiritual journey in the messages of Shah
Abdul Latif leading some one to say that Shah sahib was a Sindhi prophet with
guidance and words of wisdom on all aspects of life.
The formal General Body of SANA members and others heard members of SANA
Executive Council presenting their reports. They debated aggressively with
forceful arguments in finalizing a statement of their feelings and resolve by
unanimously passing the following resolutions:
Resolutions Passed at the 25th Sindhi Association of North America Convention
St. Louis, Missouri
USA - July 4, 2009
1. Provincial Autonomy in Pakistan
WHERE AS, Pakistan was created on the basis of 1940 Resolution guaranteeing
sovereignty and autonomy, this commitment remains unfulfilled after sixty-two
years of Pakistan's existence.
WHERE AS, according to the 1973 constitution the concurrent list of subjects
currently under the jurisdiction of Federal government would be abolished by
1983, the said provision still remains in the constitution thirty-three years
after the inception of the constitution.
THEREFORE, this gathering of North American Sindhis appeals to all people of
Pakistan including political parties and other components of he Pakistani
society to work together to implement the following constitution changes:
(a) Enhance the 1973 constitution to provide "autonomy" and "sovereignty" in
accordance with the 1940 resolution. The role of the federal government should
be limited only to the subjects of Defense, Telecommunications, Currency,
Foreign Affairs, and facilitating interaction among provinces.
(b) Strengthen constitutional provisions giving provinces the ownership of the
oil, gas, mineral, and other natural resources located in their provinces.
(c) The senate should be composed of 25 members from each of the four provinces.
Its powers are extended to initiate money bills and to approve key Federal
appointments, including high court judges, Federal Public Service Commission
members and the chiefs of the armed forces.
(d) The power to appoint municipal and district officials should be returned to
the provinces.
(e) The powers of provincial governors appointed by the central government
should be strictly limited so that they are not able to undermine the powers of
the provinces.
2. Water Rights of Lower riparian people
WHERE AS, Sindh has seen substantial reduction in the amount of water before
the Indus river reaches its borders.
WHERE AS, all provinces signed an accord in 1991 on the equitable distribution
of water from the Indus River, Punjab continues to divert large portion of water
from the river for its benefit at the cost of Sindh.
THEREFORE, this gathering of North American Sindhis appeals to all people of
Pakistan including political parties and other components of he Pakistani
society to work together to implement a new agreement on the basis of 1945
Sindh-Punjab Water Agreement. We further demand that Sindh should receive due
compensation for the reduced water share it has received in the last fifty
years. We ask that any funding for expanding the Greater Thal canal is
immediately stopped. We ask that the Federal government should assist and
promote construction of hydroelectric projects in Sindh that will help to
generate new water resources and should refrain from constructing any large or
small dams that will or have potential to reduce water for Sindh.
3. Recognize and promote National identities and ensure their majority in
their provinces
WHERE AS, Sindh agreed to join the union of Pakistan with the understanding
that it will continue to promote and enrich its native language and culture,
however, the succeeding central and provincial governments have undermined Sindh
language and Sindhi culture.
THEREFORE, this gathering demands that Balochi, Pashto, Punjabi, and Sindhi be
designated as the national languages of Pakistan. We also demand from the Sindh
government to vigorously enforce the 1972 language law in the province and to
enact laws that promote further use of Sindhi language in public and private
sectors. We further demand that the federal and provincial governments take
steps to discourage any mass migrations to Sindh from other provinces or foreign
countries that threaten the majority of Sindhis in Sindh. Instead, the
government should take steps to create temporary facilities near the affected
areas so that any displaced persons can easily return to their homes when the
peace and order is restored in those areas. We ask that steps be taken to
encourage those have already migrated to Sindh to return to their home countries
and home provinces.
4. Sufferings of Sindhis Continue under PPP regime
WHERE AS, people of Sindh elected PPP with expectation that the suffering of
Sindhi people, who have lived under discriminatory governments for many years
would end, it is sad to say that their plight continues unabated. The surrender
of duly elected government to the black mail of MQM has worsened the situation
for Sindhis as MQM’s domination of the provincial government continues. The lack
of education in rural areas continue to suffer with each passing day as more and
more funds are diverted to large cities or withheld by the government.
THEREFORE, this gathering of North American Sindhis demand that from both PPP
and MQM to achieve a balance by bringing an end to continued discriminatory
practices and ensuring equitable share of Sindhis in educational and economic
opportunities. We ask that both federal and Sindh provincial governments
initiate affirmative action programs to alleviate degrading poverty among rural
Sindhis and massively increase educational opportunities in rural areas. We
further condemn recent killing of three Sindhi demonstrators in Karachi and
demand a judicial inquiry and a financial compensation to the families of firing
victims.
5. Earmark US Aid for Sindh and Balochistan
WHERE AS, the consequences of economic disparity between rural Sindh and
Balochistan with respect to other areas have reached to a crisis point
particularly in health and education sectors.
THEREFORE, this gathering of North American Sindhis appeal to the government of
the United States and other multilateral aid institutions to specifically
earmark assistance to improve health and education in Sindh and Balochistan.
6. Appeal TO PPP and Sindh Nationalist Parties
WHERE AS, Sindhis continue to feel helpless at the inability of the elected
PPP government to fulfill the promises that the party made to their
constituencies.
THEREFORE, this gathering of North American Sindhis demands that PPP and Sindhi
nationalist parties begin a dialogue on a joint strategy for alleviating
problems faced by Sindhis and bring welfare to rural Sindhis.
7. Restoration of old Districts in Karachi and Hyderabad
WHERE AS, the amalgamation and bifurcation of old districts in the cities of
Hyderabad and Karachi have failed to live to their promise of progress.
THEREFORE, this assembly of North American Sindhis demands that old district
structure in the cities of Hyderabad and Karachi cities be restored.