GM Syed’s death anniversary observed in Sann, Dadu

The 12th death anniversary of Jeay Sindh Tahreek's founder late Ghulam Murtaza Shah (GM Syed) was observed here on Wednesday in his native town Sann with solemnity. The family members of GM Syed led by Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah, Zain Shah, and JSQM leader Bashir Qureshi visited the Mazar, while the entire town of Sann was decorated with flags, buntings and portraits of GM Syed. Since early morning caravans of Jeay Sindh Tahreek's activists started to arrive in Sann. As many as 300 caravans of Jeay Sindh workers also reached Sann after a long march from every nook and corner of Sindh.They showered the Mazar with flowers and laid many wreaths. Two separate public meetings were held in Sann by Bashir Khan Qureshi of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz and Abdul Wahid Aresar.

‘Paigham-e-Sindh’ JSQM rally reaches city in 26 days

The participants of Paigham-e-Sindh march - organized by Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM), Sindh National Party and some other local nationalist parties - reached at Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Thursday and held a demonstration that was addressed by JSQM leader Bashir Khan Qureshi and others.The Paigham-e-Sindh march that started from Sukkur on March 18 reached Karachi in 26 days after staying in many cities where the participants held demos and the leaders addressed public gatherings to highlight issues confronting Sindh and urging the people to follow the ideology of late nationalist leader G M Syed.
JSQM and other nationalist parties’ workers were carrying the flags of their respective parties as well as portraits of G M Syed and Bashir Khan Qureshi while raising party slogans.Addressing the march participants at KPC, JSQM leader Bashir Khan Qureshi said that the several hundred kilometers-long march was aimed at highlighting Sindh’s issues and creating awareness among masses as well as apprising the establishment of the consequences of ignoring the plight of Sindhi people.

He said late G M Syed had propounded a theory of religious tolerance, world peace and economic prosperity for all the oppressed nations. “Our caravan was started with a pledge to secure rights of Sindh province that had been usurped over the years by Punjab, which claims to be the big brother of smaller provinces,” he added.Qureshi felt that other nationalist parties’ leaders should also have participated in the caravan. He, however, said that Sindh’s nationalism revolves around the philosophy of late G M Syed because the aim of nationalist politics revolves around Sindh’s liberation.He maintained that the caravan was also a manifestation of the fact that the people were struggling against the disappearance of political activists in Balochistan and Sindh and they did not believe in what the government had been telling them about the detained or missing people.On the occasion, he bitterly criticized the City District Government Karachi (CDGK), saying that Karachi was an integral part of Sindh and the people speaking languages other than Sindhi could not deprive the old citizens of the metropolis from their rights.“CDGK should immediately stop conspiracies to expel Sindhis from Karachi by demolishing their villages and Katchi Abadis,” he warned and urged Sindhis to forge unity for attaining their democratic and basic human rights.Bashir Khaskheli, Illahi Bux Bulq and others also addressed the demo participants.
Courtesy: TN

Govt. making efforts to resolve Hyderabad problems: Sindh CM

Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that Sindh Government is taking all possible steps for solving the problems of Hyderabad city and would continue to cooperate with the District Government in providing basic facilities to residents of this historic city.
In a meeting with Sindh Local Government Minister, Muhammed Hussain and District Nazim Hyderabad Kanwar Navid, the Chief Minister called for supply of clean drinking water to people in Hyderabad, proper drainage system and sewerage disposal facilities.
He said an effective scheme be implemented for draining out rainwater. The Chief Minister pointed out that besides having a 5-starhotel, there is imperative need for protection of Hyderabad's Pucca Qila. He expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of Hyderabad Development Authority and WASA.
Courtesy: Geo

Hindus not safe in Sindh, says PPP MNA

A Hindu leader and PPP MNA Ramesh Lal has said that the Sindh government had failed to provide adequate security to the Hindu community in the province, and that kidnapping of the Hindus had become a routine matter here.
Talking to journalists at the residence of district president of PPP's minority wing Dileep Kumar, he accused the Sindh government of supporting feudal lords. He said that it had not taken any action so far against criminals.
Hindus in Sindh were being victimised under a "planned conspiracy", and the community was receiving threats of dire consequences from criminals, feudal lords and waderas but the government was silent on the issue, the Dawn quoted Lal as saying in Dadu district in Sindh province.
Courtesy: DI

WB to provide $ 100 million for promotion of education annually: Arbab

Chief Minister Sindh Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that the education programme in Sindh would be made more consolidated aimed at to improve the quality of education.
He said this during a meeting with the delegation of World Bank and provincial education department.
Dr Arbab said that WB would provide $ 100 million annually to Sindh government that would be incurred on promotion of education in the province.
Chief Minister said that teaching staffs would be recruited on the basis of merit to enhance the standard of government-run schools.
“Every year, 18 percent increase is being made in educational budget in Sindh with the aim to enhance the quality of education in the province”, he noted.
He underlined that the monitoring committees established for overseeing the quality education in the province had to take important initiatives for uplifting the standard of education in Sindh.
Provincial Education Minister, Dr Hameeda Khuhro, briefed the chief minister and WB delegation about the steps being taken for promotion of education in Sindh.
The meeting was attended by Dr Hand Mukhtiar, Miss Tahseen Syed, and Miss Rema Nayyar of WB, Chief Secretary Sindh Shakeel Durani and secretaries of education and finance.

Sindh women to clash WAPDA for gold in table tennis event of National Games

Displaying superb game Sindh women stormed into the final of the team by beating Railways 3-0, but their men’s team made their exit after going down 0-3 against holder WAPDA in the pre-final of table tennis event of National Games at Majeed Memorial Gymnasium at Islamia Club on Tuesday.
Sindh women will clash WAPDA for the team gold.
WAPDA will also up against Punjab for men team event gold.
Sadia gave Sindh fine start when she dropped penultimate game to beat Rizwana Saleem 3-1. But Ghalia Khursheed demolished Kanwal Iqbal 3-0 and Ayesha Khan completed the route with 3-0 win against Bushra Ahzaz.
WAPDA enjoying the services of the best men’s talent who included the trio of Bilal Yaseen, Adnan Mushtaq and Saleem Abbas crushed Higher Education Commission Sindh 3-0.
In the other men’s semifinal Punjab’s Yasir Bhatti, Asim Qureshi and Rafique beat HEC 3-0.
Courtesy: APP

Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) Long March From Sukkur

Chief of Jeay Sindh Qomi Mahaz (JSQM) Bashir Qureshi and other reach Hyderabad on their on foot march from Sukkur. Hyderabad Sindh (Reporter Jamal Panhwar) Pagham e Sindh (Message of Sindh March which started 16 days ago in Sukkur reached here in Hyderabad on 3rd April. The team of the leaders and workers of Jeay Sindh, a party supporting the cause of denial of rights of Sindh and Sindhis in Pakistan, started their unique adventure of traveling from Sukkur to Karachi on 17th March and covered a distance of over 350 Kilometers on foot. They stopped at different villages and towns and delivered their message to the people to come out for their rights. In Hyderabad the 2nd largest city of Sindh there were thousands of people who came to welcome the team. It was a welcome with drums bugals flowers and tears. The team did a tour of Hyderabad’s Sindi dominated areas on their feet and expressed their commitment to strive for the rights of Sindh till the last moment of their lives. Bashir Qureshi asked the Sindis Urdu speaking community living and Sindh and all the elders and young men to come forward for the rights of Sindh which denied by the Governmont of Pakistan. “We are not here to bitch about any one we have no fued with any one we are here for the rights of the whole sindh” Bashi Qureshi Said to the reporters of a Sindhi TV channel. Urdu channels of Pakistan have completely ignored this feet of these men of Sindh. There were tears in the eyeys of the people When wife and 2 sons and daughter of Bashi Qureshi came to meet their father during the walk Similarly When Dr. Noor Naz Jhtial and Dr. Nasreen Jhtial came to touch the feet of Bashir Qureshi, tears came out of the eyes of Bashir Qureshi. The team walked in Hyderabad till late evening and 100s of people kept joining them. A procession was held at Hayder Chowk at 8PM during Which Bashir Qureshi stook and gave a speech to the people present. He said “ We started our journey from the city of Hemoon Kalani Sukkur and have eventually reached the historical city of Hyderabad. The aim of our Struggle is to get rights for Sindh. Sindh has become a colony and we bring here the message of Sindh to you all. We have received love of millions of Sindhis on our way. This shows that people of Sindh will never accept the slavery. He said that “Punjab which is called the big brother has overtaken of fresh water Jobs trade and even politics so much that at the moment there is literally there is nothing in Sindh on which there is any right of Sindhis. We too have right to live. I have given my words to the daughters who came to welcome us every where that We will go to Jails we may be crucified or killed we will face bullets but we will not disappoint you. We are sons and daughters of 100s thousands of Sindhis who gave their blood for Sindh. He said there is a mokery of democracy here. We have suffered Jails since 58 years it is indeed the darkest chapeter of our history. He said I wish to tell America president Bush UK prime minister Tony Blair that Sindhis are peaceful nation to rid of the fundamentalism Message of Sindhis may be implemented. He said we have considered Urdu-speaking Sindhis our brothers and they shall remain the rightful sons of Sindh they should also present themselves clearly. I appeal the Urdu Speaking Sindhis that you too come in our struggle and if you do not come with us than you may have to leave this land. Leader of Sindh Democratic Party Advocate Yousuf Leghari said “We are soldiers of your team and we pay Salm to you. People of Sindh are with you. We have considered you our leader and we shall walk behind you. Voice chairman of JSQM said that People of Sindh have been voting since 58 years but there has been no change in Sindh. Sindis fate will only change whn you start asking your politicians the rights of Sindh instead of Schools & road. You should tell your politicians we want our homeland. He said we don’t want to blame any one but people who faught for 73’s constitution are now against it. Sindh is full of natural resources but Sindhis get nothing out of It. Chairman of of Sindh national party Ameer Bhanbhro said that I am hopeful that Mr. Rasool Bux Palejo, Qadir Magsi and Mumtaz Bhuto will come to attend the final of this procession in Karachi. On this occasion Faqir Imdad Mangi, Akash Malah, Sagar Haneef Burdi Soorhia Sindhi and others also expressed their views. Today the team in the leadership of Bashir Qureshi will walk to Tando Mohammad Khan while the last leg of this long march will be Karachi on 12th April.
Courtesy: Egroup

Interior Sindh up in protest against the suspension of chief justice

Like other parts of the country the legal fraternity also staged protest demonstrations in interior Sindh against the suspension of chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry as the Supreme Judicial Council (SCJ) resumed hearing of the presidential reference against the non-functional chief justice on Tuesday.The lawyers took out protest rallies and boycotted court proceedings in Hyderabad to express solidarity with the non-functional chief justice.They boycotted proceedings of the high court and civil courts in the district and took out a rally to the Hyderabad press club. They were carrying black flags and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of Justice Chaudhry. They demanded withdrawal of the presidential reference against the non-functional chief justice. Qazi Abdul Sattar, Allah Bachayo Soomro, Fazal Qadir Memon, Chaudry Bashir and others led the rally.Meanwhile, the Jamaat-e-Islami also took out a protest rally on Tuesday evening. Led by JI’s senior leader Prof Ghafoor Ahmed the rally participants marched from Hyder Chowk to the Hyderabad press club. They were protesting against the suspension of the chief justice and detention of political leaders.MMA’s Hyderabad chapter president Abdul Waheed Qureshi, Aftab Khanzada of the PPP, Afzal Gujar of the PML-N, Samad Sheikh of the PTI, Taj Muhammad Nahion of the JUI-F and others addressed the protesters.Our Jamshoro correspondent adds: A large number of lawyers from Jamshoro, Kotri and Sehwan participated in a protest rally called by the District Bar Association Jamshoro.The rally, which was taken out from the bar office, culminated at the main Kotri Chowk. The protesting lawyers set ablaze their black coats to register their protest against the presidential reference.A sizeable number of the bar members hailing from Jamshoro, Kotri and Sehwan gathered at the bar office Kotri in the morning. Later, they reached the main Kotri Chowk in the form of a rally.The lawyers expressed complete solidarity with non-functional chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chuadhry. They critisised the Sindh chief minister for disguising “Tapedars, Beldars and Chowkidars” of the provincial departments” as lawyers during his address to a so-called lawyers’ convocation in Hyderabad.They said it was for the first time in the history of Pakistan that the lawyer coat was dishounered by the chief executive of a province. The lawyers also boycotted court proceedings.Our Sukkur correspondent adds: Like other districts of the province the lawyers’ community of Sukkur also registered their protest on Tuesday against the suspension of the chief justice of Pakistan.They boycotted court proceedings, took out a rally, staged a protest demonstration and formed a human chain in front of the local press club.The protesting lawyers, led by Qurban Malano and President MMA Sindh Asadullah Bhutto, took out a rally from the district and sessions court. They chanted slogans against the government and marched on the main thoroughfares of the city. They finally gathered in front of the local press club and staged a demonstration.Addressing the lawyers, Asadullah Bhutto, Imdad Awan, Qurban Malano and others asked the government to withdraw the reference against chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and reinstate him honourably.They also called upon the legal fraternity and the opposition parties to launch a decisive anti-government movement to rid the people of the present rulers.Later, the lawyers set ablaze their coats and formed a human chain, while some of them also observed a token hunger strike on the premises of Sindh High Court, Sukkur bench.Meanwhile, scores of PPP workers led by MNA Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, MPA Dr Nasrullah Baloch and other politicians also staged a protest demonstration followed by a sit-in outside the press club against the suspension of the chief justice of Pakistan.Some activists of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf also staged a similar protest demonstration.Our Thatta correspondent adds: On the call of the Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA), the lawyers' community on Tuesday protested against the suspension of the chief justice of Pakistan.The lawyers staged a demonstration in front of the district court building and expressed solidarity with the non-functional chief justice and demanded his immediate reinstatement. President Thatta District Bar Association Izhar Ahmed Hashmani led the demonstration. They also boycotted court proceedings across the district.Our Khairpur correspondent adds: Members of the Khairpur District Bar Association on Tuesday took out a rally to protest the presidential reference against the chief justice of Pakistan. The lawyers also staged a token hunger strike and boycotted court proceedings.
Courtesy: TN

World Bank dams provoke hunger strikes in Pakistan

In February affected communities, and local NGOs undertook a hunger strike in protest against the implementation of the Bank funded water project of the Taunsa Barrage Emergency Rehabilitation and Modernisation. The protest focused in particular on the Bank's lack of response to environmental and socio-economic degradation caused by the remodelling project and the refusal to launch an inquiry. The impact of the project has ranged from displacement, loss of livelihoods, intensification of water-logging and salinity, closure of canals and river-erosion. There are concerns that it is also in violation of the Bank's own policies and that the underlying data and design are flawed. Despite 18 months of registered protest from affected communities and repeated requests for an independent inquiry to look into the social and environmental problems of the project, neither the Bank nor the Punjab irrigation department have accepted responsibility for the projects failings, nor show signs to instigate an independent enquiry commission. Pakistani civil society organisations are reluctant to take the case to the Bank's Inspection Panel due to the cumbersome and lengthy processed experienced in the case of the Left Bank Outfall Drainage Project. This lead to many recommendations being largely ignored by the Bank.
In addition, a letter from the Sindh Democratic Forum to President Wolfowitz and representatives of the Asian and Islamic Development Banks expresses great concern regarding proposed IFI funding for mega water projects to the government of Pakistan. In particular the letter focuses on cuts to the Indus River system which has seriously affected Sindh province's water supply and subsequently rural economy, agriculture, drinking water and poverty levels. Sindh province is entirely dependent on the Indus for its water. The letter points out that financial support for large water projects runs contrary to the development and poverty reduction mandate of the IFIs.
Courtesy: BWP

Pakistani lawyers decide to keep intact campaign momentum

Lawyers from all over Punjab have resolved not to ease momentum of their movement against Gen. Pervez Musharraf or allow black sheep in their ranks to divert its path.
At a convention here, the Punjab Bar Council (PbBC) announced a full-day strike every Thursday as part of their protest against the ‘unconstitutional suspension’ of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, besides staging protest rallies, holding meetings and setting up hunger strike camps throughout the province.
The participants also enhanced the duration of the daily strike by lawyers from one to three hours during which time they would stage protests at their respective bars. The convention announced a strike and boycott of courts on April 3 when lawyers from all over the province will gather in Islamabad on the occasion of the hearing in the reference against the chief justice.
Bar Associations across the province were authorised to formulate their own protest schedules and programmes. It also said the lawyers' movement will remain unflinching till such time their goal has been achieved and lawyers will gather in Karachi if the venue for their assembly is shifted there.
The convention was attended by all the 113 bar associations, including representatives of the Supreme Court Bar Association and High Court Bar Association who demanded immediate ouster of Gen. Pervez Musharraf and reconstitution of the Supreme Judicial Council and demanded an open court trial of Justice Chaudhry.
The convention has demanded prosecution of Gen. Pervez Musharraf under Article 6, (high treason) for unconstitutionally holding office of president while in uniform of an army general and that a national government should be formed and elections held under an independent election commissioner.
The lawyers called for the removal of chief ministers of Punjab and Sindh for torturing lawyers and keeping Justice Chaudhry in detention allegedly for six hours to force him to resign.Paying glowing tribute to the boldness and courage of Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, the convention saluted judges and law officers who resigned to protest the reference. The convention also adopted a resolution demanding resignation of Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani for ‘lying to the nation’. The resolution flayed Law Minister Wasi Zafar, Dr Khalid Ranjha, Arif Chaudhry and Raja Abdul Rahman for supporting what they said, illegal and unconstitutional acts of President Musharraf.
Courtesy: KT

Private schools take up taxes, deadlines with government

A 15-member delegation of the All-Private Schools Management Association Sindh (APSMAS) met the Sindh governor’s principal secretary, Muhammad Salim Khan, on Saturday to discuss a four-point agenda related to the management of private schools.The delegation was scheduled to meet Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ibad Khan, but was told that the principal secretary would deal with them instead. The governor was “not available due to unavoidable circumstances,” APSMAS chairman, Syed Khalid Shah, told Daily Times.One of the points raised was the plan to shift the private schools registration authority to the Sindh Education Department. Registration is currently managed by the respective district governments. The delegation demanded that the decision be cancelled immediately, due to the complications that will arise. “If the registration authority becomes centralized, people from interior Sindh will have to come to Karachi at least five times a year for each registration,” said APSMAS Sukkur president, Mustaq Ahmed Sheikh. This, he said, would be tedious, and costly for the management of these schools.The other point raised during the meeting was the rescheduling of the admission session to August. Admissions currently take place in April. “If the admission session starts from August, examinations will be held in June, which is an extremely hot month, and affects students negatively,” APSMAS representatives said. “On the other hand, with the current schedule, the session starts in April, and the annual examinations are held in March, when the weather is relatively more pleasant.”The delegation also discussed the new taxation policies which are currently under consideration at the city council. They also spoke about the board of intermediate and secondary education in Hyderabad, Sukkur and Mirpurkhas. These boards, they said, charge higher registration fees than anywhere else in the province. “The Hyderabad Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education charges Rs 6,000 for the registration of a new school and Rs 4,000 for renewing an old registration. The rates for Karachi, however, are Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000 respectively,” APSMAS Hyderabad president, Nasir Khanzada, told Daily Times.The Sindh secretariat principal secretary promised to look into all of these concerns, and to solve them according to their significance. Moreover, the APSMAS was asked to constitute a formal committee with the collaboration of CDGK education department. “This committee will compile a list of private schools for the ease of registration,” Shah said.
Courtesy: DT

Sindh govt announce holiday for Eid Milad

The City Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal has announced local holiday in the metropolis on April 2 (Monday) on the occasion of Eid Milad-un-Nabi. The government-run schools, colleges, and two major public sector universities in the city will also remain closed tomorrow. However, there is no official word on the status of special holiday on Monday for a large number of privately run educational institutions in the city. The Sindh Government has also announced an additional holiday on Monday in connection with Eid Milad-un-Nabi. According to the notification issued by District Officer Coordination Officer, City-District Government Karachi (CDGK) all offices of the CDGK, town municipal administrations, union administrations, and the educational institutions within the city-district Karachi will remain closed on Monday. According to the notification issued by the University of Karachi on Saturday, the KU and its affiliated colleges will remain closed on April 2 on account of Eid Milad-un-Nabi. The schedule of examinations of the university if any, scheduled on Monday, will remain unchanged. According to the notification issued by registrar of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science, & Technology (FUUAST), the Karachi and Islamabad campuses of the Urdu University will remain closed on April 2 in connection with Eid Milad-un-Nabi. A senior official of the Dow University of Health Science (DUHS) had informed The News on Saturday evening that they had not announced any additional holiday for the Dow University on Monday.
Courtesy: TN

Pakistan Celebrates Eid Milad-un-Nabi Tomorrow

Like rest of the areas in Pakistan, arrangements are also being made in Sindh to celebrate Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) with religious fervour and zeal tomorrow, Sunday.
The public and private buildings and the mosques of the city have been illuminated in an aesthetic manner. City government, towns and union councils administration are paying special attention to the cleanliness. Also, a committee of ulema has been constituted to spread tolerance among the masses.
The committee will meet the organizers of mosques situated in sensitive areas and processions being taken out in Malir Town. Law enforcement agencies have made foolproof security arrangements to cope with any untoward incident on the occasion
Courtesy: PT

The Sindh govt allies vying for control of new deptt

The power-sharing row between two strong coalition partners of the Sindh government is creating a delay in the activation of the Sindh Criminal Prosecution Department. The department was created with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under its Access to Justice Program (AJP). A summary moved by the newly-created department for approval of the Sanctioned New Schedule (NEW) to allocate a budget for the appointment of 1500 of employees as well as the provision of furniture, vehicles and other pre-requisites, is lying with Sindh Finance Department for last six months without any action due to the political tug of war between coalition partners.Well-informed sources told The News on Tuesday that currently the newly-formed department was under the control of the Sindh Chief Minister. However, a major coalition partner, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, wanted control, which was being resisted by the CM.They informed that the total cost of the ADB program was around US$350 million and but, owing to non-activation of the department, it had stopped the third tranche of nearly US$8 million that was due last December.Such departments have started functioning in the other three provinces of Pakistan, but in Sindh the bill has, so far, not been passed by the provincial assembly owing to differences within the ruling coalition.
Courtesy: TN