By Farooque Sargani

Thana Bulakhan

In Kohistan, a rally organized by Sindhi Shahgird Tahreek (QAT) Kohistan and the indigenous people of Sarri drew a large crowd from Petrol Pump to Sarri High School, in Saeei town of Thana Bulakhan, district Jamshoro, Sindh. Participants joined in chorus, demanding action on education and drug prevention, with speakers urging authorities to: stop drug supply, appoint new teachers at Sarri High School, reopen the closed school in Thana Bola Khan, and provide basic human necessities.

Amar Mushtaq Palari, a local Kohistani school teacher and poet, highlighted staffing shortages at Sarri High School, stating that only three teachers are currently on duty. Palari urged that ten teachers should be appointed to adequately serve the students.

An organizer and central leader of Sindhi Shahgird Tahreek condemned the region’s current situation, describing Kohistan as having shifted from a peaceful area to a marketplace for drug mafias. The organizer warned that drug use in the small village of Sarri is spreading and risks jeopardizing the future generation.

Speakers asserted that the crisis is largely the result of influence by feudal lords and Sardars who are believed to support outsider mafias. They called for urgent intervention by higher authorities to appoint new teachers in Sarri High School and to halt the flow of drugs to addicts in Kohistan.

A large number of residents and supporters participated in the peaceful demonstration. Protestors carried banners and chanted slogans emphasizing education and public health: “Stop supplying drugs, appoint new teachers in school, open the closed school in Thana Bola Khan, and provide basic human necessities.”

The rally underscores ongoing concerns about educational infrastructure and drug-related issues in Kohistan, particularly in Sarri.

Addressing staffing deficiencies at Sarri High School is essential for student outcomes, while curbing drug availability is seen as critical to safeguarding the community’s future.

Authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the demands. The organizers indicated their intention to escalate the campaign through further peaceful actions if assurances on staffing and anti-drug measures are not forthcoming.

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Read: Stories in Stone

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Malir, Karachi, Sindh

Awami Tehreek organized a protest rally on Monday March 17 in Razaqabad area against the construction of six new canals from the Indus River, corporate farming projects, and amendments to the IRSA Act.

A large number of women, children, elders, youth, laborers, and students participated in the rally. Slogans were chanted against the Cholistan Canal.

The rally was led by Awami Tehreek’s Central Senior Vice President Noor Ahmad Katiar, Malir District President Pirha Soomro, Advocate Khalid Tunio, Sindhi Shagird Tahreek’s Central President Advocate Naveed Abbas Kalhoro, Sindhi Mazdoor Tahreek’s Central General Secretary Zubair Nonari, social worker Khuda Dino Shah, Advocate Abdullah Bapar, Sattar Gopang, Aziz Langah, Sundar Kumar, Jam Sagar, Nabi Bux Sheikh, Dr. Rahmatullah Brohi, Bhoora Lal Bheel, Murtaza Zaur, and others.

Addressing the rally, Awami Tehreek’s Central Senior Vice President Noor Ahmad Katiar said, “Sindh has out rightly rejected the anti-Sindh schemes to build canals on the Indus River. Punjab must be held accountable for its 150-year-long theft of Sindh’s water. The Cholistan Canal project is a plan to massacre millions of Sindh’s people.”

He added, that PTI members in the Punjab Assembly have demanded canals from the Indus River. PTI and PPP are two sides of the same coin. President Zardari approved the canals, corporate farming, and IRSA Act amendments on 8 July 2024, while the PPP’s Sindh government is theatrically opposing them. Instead of passing resolutions in the Sindh Assembly, the PPP should separate from Shahbaz Sharif’s government.

Katiar said that Sindh is already barren due to water scarcity. The absence of water release downstream of Kotri Barrage has turned Sindh’s fertile land into barren. The destruction of the Indus Delta has left millions in Sindh suffering from hunger and unemployment.

He declared, that the six canals on the Indus River aim to annihilate the Sindhi nation. PPP’s anti-canal statements are lies, drama, and fraud. President Zardari is trying to deceive the public by approving these canals. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is a major supporter of corporate farming projects. The PPP has sold every inch of Sindh for power. The people of Sindh will fight till their last breath to protect the Indus River.

Read: Indus River Issue: Sindh calls for international intervention

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Report and Photos by Allah Bux Khushik

Dadu, Sindh

Sindh Culture Department has miserably failed to maintain the 34-year old Allama I. I. Kazi Library and provide basic facilities to the visitors including the furniture and potable water.

A number students took out rally and staged demonstration outside the local press club on Friday to register their protest against the lack of facilities at Allama I.I. Kazi Library in Dadu city.

The students of various universities, colleges, and high school holding placards raised slogans against the provincial culture department and the library administration for not providing furniture and clean drinking water etc.

They also criticized the library administration for not opening the different closed sections and increasing library time.

Farooq Abro, Naveed Somroo, Farman Jamali, Ihsan Kumbar and other protesting students said that due to shortage of furniture in study sections, they are compelled to study under the trees in the lawn of library and sitting at the floor of library rooms.

They said that water filter plant was established in library but due to corruption it has not been functional yet. “Due to shortage of clean drinking water we are facing great hardships,” they said.

The agitating students said that study time of library is 12 clocks for students but the administration has curtailed the time to 10 clocks a day. “The library’s opening and closing time is 8am to 5pm but the administration opens the library an hour late at 9am and closes the gates at 4pm,” they told.

Citing the example of other libraries of the province, they said that libraries in Hyderabad, Larkana, Sukkur and Karachi offer much time to the students but in Dadu, the administration is not ready to increase timing of library and instead has illegally curtailed the 2 hours’ time.

The protesters said that old building of library was closed and in new library building, female and primary students’ section were closed by administration.

They alleged that administration shows the old building functional in official record and is getting fake bills but the fact is contrary to it.

The students said that many times they lodged complaint to Deputy Commissioner Dadu and elected MNAs and MPAs but they didn’t pay any attention to their grievances.

“Finding no other way we compelled to record protest,” they said.

They said that our youth want to give time to their studies at library but the library administration and elected members of assemblies are not happy. “Perhaps they want youth to spend time at hotels,” they lamented.

They told that a number of students are preparing for competitive examinations but no one is ready to help them. The protesting students demanded District and Session Judge Dadu to take notice of the situation and issue directives to the concerned authorities.

While, this reporter contacted library in-charge Muneer Mustafa Jhandeer, he was not available at the library. He even didn’t reply text message sent to him about the students’ allegations.

It was learnt that the Library In-charge lives in Hyderabad and is posted here. On Friday, he was in Hyderabad, according to sources, however, on Saturday, when Mr. Jhandeer was again contacted, he told that he was in a meeting in Naushehro Feroze on Friday.

Muneer Mustafa Jhandeer said they cannot extend the library timings due to shortage of staff. “No recruitment has been made since 2013 during which a number of staff members have retired,” he said.

Admitting that the library has shortage of furniture, he said there are only 50 chairs at the library, and he has no authority to buy any furniture. “I have written to the high ups about the grievances of students,” he said.

According to him, the library has solar system and all the library rooms are airconditioned.

The miserable conditions were witnessed during a visit to the library to verify the allegations of protesting youth. The students showed the contaminated water they had to consume while a large number of students were seen sitting on floor, stairs and in the lawn.

The library was established by Sindh Culture and Tourism Department, but seems that the authorities have utterly neglected to maintain it and even no inspection is conducted to take stock of the situation.

The library was inaugurated by Syed Qaim Ali Shah, the then Sindh Chief Minister, on February 26, 1989.

An employee of the library, who didn’t want to be named, confided that owing to lack of facilities, the number of students enrolled at library, has declined. “Last year, the number of registered students was 300, which this year has dropped to 200,” he told.

Dadu has only two public sector libraries. Another one is located in Doaba Village of Dadu. Some NGOs had established the libraries in Mehar, KN Shah and Johi towns of Dadu district but all were closed.

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Karachi

A public rally against price hike on Sunday demanded of the government to take drastic measures to break out of the deadly debt trap of international lenders and salvage the sinking economy.

National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) Pakistan, Home Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF) Pakistan and youth organization Alternate arranged a joint Awami rally against the price hike that marched from the Fuwara Chowk to the Karachi Press Club (KPC). It was led by Riaz Abbasi of NTUF, Comrade Zehra Khan of HBWWF and Aqib Hussain of Alternate.

A large number of workers, youths, women and representatives of political and human rights organizations attended the rally, carrying banners and placards inscribed with their demands. They raised slogans against the slavery of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Among those who addressed the rally were Nasir Mansoor of National Trade Union Federation, Karamat Ali of National Labor Council, Asad Butt of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Saeed Baloch of Fisher Fork Forum, Manzoor Razi of Railway Workers Union, Comrade Wahid Baloch, Sajjad Zaheer of Anjuman-e-Taraki Pasand Musannafeen, Aneesa Yusuf, Parveen Bano, Nazra Bano of Home Based Women Workers Federation, Zahida Parveen of United HB workers Union, Iqbal and Barkat Ali of Alternative and others.

Addressing the rally, speakers said the ruling classes instead of cut in their own perks have opted for an economic terrorism against the masses in the name of mini-budget. They said all ruling parties and the parties that have kept mum over tormenting the poor masses are partners in these anti-people crimes. They said it is the need of hour that the poor masses should distance themselves from these political parties and organize themselves on new political lines to cope with the situation. They should promote their own political leadership to steer the country out of economic crisis. To break free of the slavery of the IMF, all absent landlord holdings should be abolished and this land should be distributed amongst the landless peasants free of cost.

They demanded fifty percent cut in defense and administrative expenses. All edibles should be provided to citizens at reduced rates. All citizens should be given social security cover and old age pension. Bilateral relations and trade ties should be promoted with the neighboring countries.

They said the 75 years history of Pakistan shows that the vested interests of the ruling elite have made the masses slaves of the powerful lending institutions and capitalist countries. International Monetary Fund, World Bank and other international lending entities are playing the role of a new East India Company to maintain the killer grip of the capitalist countries over hapless Pakistanis. The local rulers have been playing the role of their agents and hatching conspiracies against their own people.

They said the ruling elite comprising feudal lords, capitalists, military generals, judges and bureaucracy are sucking the blood of poor masses. They said as per the annual report of the UNDP every year 17 billion dollars’ subsidies are being given to the Pakistani elite from the annual budget, while Rs.1.5 trillion are earmarked for the defense expenses and more than Rs1 trillion for luxuries of ministers, officers and their families in the name of administrative expenses. They said if the non-development expenses of defense and federal administration are slashed it would greatly help in freeing the poor masses from the clutches of poverty and hunger.

They said that the current economic crisis in Pakistan is the direct result of government corruption and anti-people policies that have resulted in about 60 percent cut in the real income of the masses during last five years. The rates of medicines have been increased by 300 percent, petroleum products by 100 percent and edibles especially wheat flour 200 percent. The bills of electricity and gas have gone beyond the reach of the masses. Rising rates of education, healthcare and public transport have broken the back of the poor people. They said the present mini-budget have virtually buried the poor masses alive. People are facing immense problems in getting two square meals, while the ministers and advisors are getting more and more benefits.

The speakers said that the ruling classes are the least concerned about the plights of the poor Pakistanis. As the masses are politically disorganized they are being burdened with more inflation and price hike. Rise in general sales tax, tariffs of electricity and gas and ending subsidies on daily use items have opened the floodgates of inflation and price hike. During the last four years, additional two 20 million people have already been pushed down the poverty line, while due to the anti-people economic policies it is feared that two 20 million more people would go beneath the poverty line. Due to the wrong economic policies not only the agricultural sector has been destroyed but the wheel of industry has also been slowed down, creating massive joblessness. As per an estimate due to the current economic crisis more than one million workers would be rendered jobless.

The protest rally demanded that the recent anti-people mini-budget should be withdrawn. Fifty percent cut should be made in the defense and administrative expenses. All perks including plots should be withdrawn from military and civil officers, judges and ministers. Government lands should be distributed amongst the landless Haris. Direct taxes should be slapped on the rich classes. Subsidies should be given on edibles and basic needs of life. Minimum wage should be fixed at Rs50000 per month.  Social security and old age pension should be given to all citizens. Friendly and bilateral relations should be established to all neighbors. The culprits of Baloch women’s murder should be taken to the task. All missing person including the Baloch women should be recovered and the criminals involved in these crimes should be jailed.

The rally announced that the day of March 8, International Women’s Day, this year would be observed as the day against the salaried slavery and gender-based discrimination. (PR)

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By Allah Bux Khushik

DADU

A number of Primary teachers took out rally from Allama I I Kazi Labirary to Press Club Dadu and staged demonstration for their legal demands on Sunday.

Teachers carried placards and chanted slogans against education minister Sardar Ali Shah and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.

The protest march was led by Young Teachers’ Action Committee president Mansoor Ahmed Kalhoro, Imran Korai, Yasir Qazi and Sajid Mastoi.

Speaking on this occasion, they said that owing to delay by the education department, the primary teachers who were appointed in 2008 through IBA and NTS test are deprived of their legal rights.

They said that in Dadu district 5400 primary teachers were upgraded in 14 scale but their service structure was not cleared. Teachers alleged that the meeting of District Promotion Committee of Dadu was not held and therefore 5400 teachers are not promoted from PST to HST.

They alleged that in other district of Sindh province DPC meetings were held after five years but in Dadu education officials are not ready to redress their grievances so that teachers are promoted PST to HST.

They said that due to unprecedented inflation in the country, the teachers are facing great hardships like other common people and urged the government to increase their teaching allowance, house rent benefit and medical allowance or otherwise Young Teachers Action Committee would stage sit-in in front of Sindh Chief Minister’s House in Karachi.

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By GR Junejo

Mithi, Tharparkar: On the call of Pakistan People’s Party Sindh, the district chapter of the party took out a rally here on Monday to protest against releasing unjustified reduced share of river water to the province by Indus River System Authority (IRSA).

The protest rally was led by PPP Tharparkar President Engineer Gianchand, Senator Krishna Kumari, Sushil Malani, Veerji Kolhi, Arbab Amanullah, Nand lal Malhi advocate, Kunwar Amar, ladies’ wing leader Kamla Bheel and others.

Gianchand and other leaders said that Sindh has been released 40 percent less water than its due share under the 1991 Water Accord, which is great injustice. “IRSA has conspired to turn Sindh barren by depriving it its due share of water,” they said.

“They use to release water only during the flood season to inundate Sindh,” they alleged.

According to PPP leaders, the Indus Delta has been destroyed because of no discharge of sufficient water to the sea and in result the sea intrusion has increased destroying over 2.2 million acre fertile land of the province. “The mangrove forests too have been damaged due to low discharges of river water while marine life is on the decline and the fishing community has been deprived of livelihood,” the PPP leaders said.

“The water shortage in River Indus is the issue of life and death for the people of Sindh. The province has more right on river water being the lower riparian under the international law, and in case the IRSA continued the conspiracy of depriving Sindh of its water share, the PPP will follow the tradition set by Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and stage sit-in at Kumoon Shaheed, the Sindh-Punjab border,” PPP leaders warned.

Gianchand and others alleged that Niazi government has not only damaged the government but was conspiring to destroy the agriculture of Sindh.

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