Sindh is a victim of political tyranny and exploitation

Like the Balochs and Pashtuns, the Sindhis are demanding politico-economic authority over their territory and freedom from Pakistan occupation, human rights abuses and religious fundamentalism. The Sindh movement started after partition in 1948 followed by a struggle for total independence in 1972. At the forefront of the Sindhi struggle is the Jeay Sindh Muttahida Maha (JSMM), declared as a terrorist organisation by Pakistan in 2013.

JSMM Chairman Shafi Burfat speaks exclusively to THE WEEK from Germany, where he has been in exile, about the growing popularity of the Sindhudesh independence movement and how New Delhi should be cautious not to play into the hands of Islamabad by stopping the flow of Indus river (Sindhu river) into Pakistan which would be another injustice to Sindh, not Pakistan, and could heavily damage India’s humanitarian and friendly image.

Years after partition, you are talking about total independence of Sindh. How practical is the struggle?

I believe that the subcontinent’s people’s movement against British Raj was for independence and never for partition. The division of India on the basis of so-called two nation theory was not the true independence our people fought for. I believe a historic blunder was committed in 1947, in the name of independence. The real identity crisis began when these nations were forced to abandon their status as sovereign nations, history, languages, dynamic pluralist culture and politico-economic authority in so-called Islamic State of Pakistan. The cultural crisis and deprivation of politico-economic authority in Pakistan are the real causes behind the Sindh’s struggle for restoration of its historical separate independent status as a nation state. Our struggle for independence from Pakistani theocratic fascist state is not new and it has a popular back support of Sindhi people.  

How big is the problem of religious extremism and conversions in Sindh?  

The problem of religious conversions in Sindh is worrisome and intense as it is operated and backed by Pakistani military establishments in Sindh and shadow religious organisations working under the direct supervision of Pakistan army. Hindus, Ahmadis and Christians are economically and socially forced to convert or flee the country. While Sindhi population in general and secular political parties especially Sindhi nationalist parties largely protest all events that catch an eye of the media, but such conversions are a quiet process and continue till day.        

What kind of extremist activities are going on in Sindh?

There are thousands of madrasas (more than 50,000 new madrasas were built in Musharaf era according to a report published in 2013) that have been built by Punjabi establishment and the army along Sindh’s border with India and on the both sides of the National Highway (from Punjab to Karachi). Their numbers continue to grow. Its main purpose is to brainwash innocent Sindhis and their children against neighboring India, seen as a historical friend, and also provide safe havens to terrorists of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Haqqani Network and Jaish-e-Muhammad. They also produce religious extremists and terrorists among Sindhis who can defend Pakistani territory along Sindh’s borders or infiltrate the Indian border to carry out cross-border terrorism. The other purpose of these establishments is to use religion to commit cultural genocide of secular Sindhi nation.      

What is the deployment of Pakistan military in these areas?  

The military you are referring to as Pakistan Army is the Punjabi Army. Punjab has established its imperialist occupation over historic Sindhi, Baloch and Pashtun nations through its military might and extremist Islamist theocracy. Sindhi people have troubled the ranks of Punjabi establishment to an extent that the largest deployment of Punjabi army falls in Sindh, after Punjab and Kashmir, with 19 major military cantonments and countless smaller intelligence and executing units spread throughout Sindh. Pakistan has six major cantonments―Pano Aqil, Hyderabad, Chor, Petaro, Badin and Malir (Karachi) all bordering or near India.    
 

What kind of human rights violations are taking place in Sindh and Balochistan?

Sindhi and Baloch nations are facing worst form of oppression and fascism by the hands of Punjabi army. Pakistani military establishment is repeating the barbarism, holocaust, massacre and genocide of oppressed nations the same way they did in Bengal (East Pakistan) in 1971. Political activists disappear, are abducted in broad daylight, brutally tortured, killed in cold blood and their bullet-riddled, mutilated bodies are either dumped on roadsides or trash piles. Sindh is a victim of political tyranny and economic exploitation today. The progressive, secular, independence seeking political voices and parties of Sindh and Balochistan, including our party Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz, have been banned. The Punjabi army is kidnapping, molesting and raping women in Balochistan and Pashtun areas like WANA and Waziristan. Torture, abduction and extra-judicial killings of Sindhi, Baloch and Pashtun youth have become a common phenomenon these days. The only politicians and political line that is either partially supported or tolerated by the Army is the politics of pro-military patriotism and obedience. A majority of Pakistani politicians is “made in military” branded like present Prime Minister Imran Khan.                  

The Sindhu river, commonly referred to as Indus River, is often seen as a tool to rein in Islamabad by stopping its flow into Pakistan. Are there concerns about Indus River in Sindh?

Indus River’s water belongs to neither India nor Pakistan. The river belongs to Sindh because the pre-partition 1945 Sindh-Punjab water sharing agreement, settled by British Raj, declares that Sindh as “the lower riparian on Indus River System” is entitled and accredited to get 75 per cent water of Indus River while Punjab or other “upper riparian” are entitled to 25 per cent of the river. But Punjab in Pakistan has already built plenty of illegal canals, reservoirs and dams on the Indus and robbed Sindh of its due water share by force. This has already deteriorated Sindh’s agrarian-based economy inflicting several droughts and famines. Any move by India to stop the river flow would be another injustice to Sindh, not Pakistan, and would heavily damage India’s humanitarian and friendly image in here. A democratic country like India must refrain from such tactics of making enemies out of friends.

What is the status of Sindhi language in Pakistan? Is it an official language? 

In a  state like Pakistan, where 10,000 years of history, existence and identity of a secular Sindhi nation―the creator and custodian of Indus Civilisation―are denied, how can we even expect Sindhi to be recognised as an official language.  

Pakistan’s so-called national assembly has rejected four such resolutions passed and pushed forward by provincial assemblies to recognise/make the original languages of Pakistan (including Punjabi along with Sindhi, Baluchi and Pashto), as its national languages, but as always, in vain.  

 Do you support India's air strikes at the terror hub in Balakot?

Pakistan is the epicenter of Islamist extremism and terrorism in the form of JeM, LeT, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Taliban or Haqqani Network used in either India, Afghanistan or in the entire world. They all are the off-shoots, strategic assets and B-Teams of Pakistani army; nourished, trained, sponsored and commanded by the military establishment and the ISI. The Indian airstrikes on JeM terrorists base in Balakot in such conditions is a positive sign indeed. This indicates that India has changed its policy towards the terrorist state of Pakistan, which has been constantly engaged in disturbing the peace of the region through such activities, since decades. Therefore, we consider such strikes as a positive strategy to counter cross-border terrorism.  

 How do you see the militancy problem in Kashmir? 

I have known many Kashmiri leaders from Pakistan occupied Kashmir since years. They have been struggling to free Kashmir from Pakistani occupation and totally disregard the notion of religious nationalism instigated and sponsored by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir region of India. I consider Kashmiri militant movement in India as a result of Pakistani intrusion, fascism and aggression. Therefore, Kashmiri youth brainwashed and involved in such terrorism must understand the dirty game of Pakistan which is using their religious sentiments to carry forward its own strategic interests against India. I would suggest separatist Kashmiri youth who chant such slogans to study the case of Bangladesh, Sindh, Balochistan, Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Pashtuns who have already discarded the two-nation theory and are suffering humiliation, slavery and atrocities in Pakistan.