Bangladeshis Cross Fingers as Republicans Retake House

By: Senge Sering 

The Bangladeshi Diaspora in North America has a newfound reason to acclaim October 14, 2022. On this day, two prominent Congress-members Steve Chabot and Ro Khanna introduced a bipartisan resolution in the 117^th US Congress for formal recognition of Bangladeshi genocide of 1971. Although Congressman Chabot lost his re-election campaign during the recent midterm polls; the Bangladeshi-Americans hope, his colleagues will honor Chabot’s efforts and provide closure and solace to the genocide victims by censuring Pakistani military and its Islamist collaborators.

The birth of Bangladesh reminds us of one of the most ruinous genocides of the modern world. It started in the spring of 1971 when the Pakistani government launched the notorious Operation Searchlight to maintain order in its eastern Bengal province. Over the next nine months, Pakistani soldiers massacred approximately three million ethnic Bengalis and raped close to half a million Bengali women. The material destruction and ethnic cleansing was intentional and methodical as the Pakistan army mostly targeted Hindu Bengalis for extermination for their religious beliefs. In addition, a large number of nationalist Bengali Muslims seeking freedom from Pakistan were also slaughtered and raped.

Human Rights Day: Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All

Baloch, Sindhis, and Pashtuns Demand Freedoms & Rights for the Oppressed

10 December, Toronto: The International Human Rights Day in Canada was marked by the unity of the oppressed peoples, namely – the Baloch, the Sindhis, and the Pashtuns, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; representatives spoke of the gruesome atrocities – crimes against humanity, war crimes, massacre & genocide, political repression, femicide, killing of children, targeted killings, extrajudicial killings, torture, hanging of protesters, and enforced disappearances of civilians by Pakistan and Iran.

Speakers from different walks of life strongly criticized the dictatorial regime in Iran and the Pakistani military for committing atrocities and mainly targeting minority oppressed nations and religious groups while denying the people their right to life, dignity, freedom, and justice.

Sindhi Activist Aqib Chandio Killed In A Fake Encounter BY Pakistan

The death of Sindhi nationalist activist Aqib Chandio has been confirmed by the relatives and the Sindhi nationalist organization.

In a video statement published on social media, Sindhi activist Aqib Chandio’s sister Shazia Chandio said that the body found in recent days is of her brother Aqib Chandio. Shazia Chandio has requested to the authorities that her brother’s body be handed over to her.

Shazia Chandio said that she was out of touch from social media for the past few days due to which she did not get timely information, but when she received the photos of the body, she identified the brother by his clothes and outlook.

Canadian Parliament Exposes Pak Army Chief Gen. Bajwa as Violator of Human Rights

Visit of Pakistan’s Army General Qamar Javed Bajwa to Canada came under heated discussion in the Canadian Parliament on Monday.

Parliamentary Secretary of Canadian Defense Ministry Bryan May says allocation of the $50,000 for the reception of Pakistan’s Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa was ‘inappropriate’. His comments came in response to a fiery speech of the Canadian parliamentarian Tom Kmiec who slammed his government for approving the amount for COAS Bajwa’s reception from the taxpayer money of Canada.

Sindh’s legal fraternity opposes dams on Indus river

KARACHI/ HYDERABAD: The Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) announced its opposition to any move to build dams on Indus River without the consent of Sindh, citing inter-provincial disputes between Punjab and Sindh on water sharing since 1859. The legal fraternity of SHCBA also held a demonstration in Hyderabad on Monday to express its disapproval.

“The SHCBA, keeping in view the water disputes between Sindh and Punjab and perusing Articles 153, 154 and 155 of the Constitution, strongly condemns violation of the said articles,” reads a three-page resolution signed by SHCBA Vice President Advocate Syed Muhammad Waseem Shah and General Secretary Advocate Ishrat Ali Lohar.

Missing stories from Sindh

Punhal Sario’s abduction, followed by more disappearances, has raised questions about Sindh’s missing persons

By: Fehmida Riaz

Followed by protests and a long march by the families of Baloch missing persons, of late it is the missing persons of Sindh that are making headlines. The abduction of Punhal Sario on August 3, a renowned human rights activist, head of Sindh Hari Porhyat Council and convener of the recently established Voice for Missing Persons (VMP) Sindh, has shaken many human rights activists and organisations.

A few days after Sario went missing, on the evening of August 7, three more well-known social activists were picked up from their homes in Mithi city of Tharparkar. According to their families, teacher and educationist Partab Shivani, teacher and writer Naseer Kumbhar, and a leader of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) Mohammad Umer, were ‘abducted’ by plainclothes officials along with Tharparkar police personnel. Tharparkar SSP Ameer Saud Magsi told local journalists that he has no information regarding their ‘abduction’.

ریاست بمقابلہ عوام: پاکستان کی تاریخ پر نوٹس

تحریر: میر محمد علی ٹالپر

ترجمہ : لطیف بلیدی

’تاریخ میں عوام کو معجزات کرنے کیلئے جانا جاتا ہے؛ کچھ بھی ان کی پہنچ سے باہر نہیں۔‘

کسی ہستی، گروہ، قوم یا ریاست کو عوام کے فطری حقوق پر ترجیح حاصل نہیں ہو سکتی جس کی تخلیق یا وجود کی بنیاد خواہ کچھ بھی ہو جس کے تحت اس نے لوگوں کو ان قیاس کردہ اعلیٰ اور عظیم مقاصد کیلئے اپنے آپ میں ضم کیا ہوا ہو۔ زبانوں، ثقافت، اخلاقیات اور اقدار کا نفاذ جو کہ نافذ کنندہ کی نظروں میں خواہ کتنی ہی بلند و بالا ہوں مگر پھر بھی ان کے نفاذ کو کسی بھی طرح کا جواز فراہم نہیں کر سکتیں چاہے ان وجوہات کی بنیاد مذہبی، سماجی، اقتصادی یا سیاسی ہوں۔ ایسے غیرمنصفانہ نفاذ ہزارہا مسائل کا موجب بنتی ہیں جن کا ہر موڑ پر ہمیشہ انہیں سامنا کرنا پڑتا ہے اور ان کی متضاد اور ناموافق فطرت کی قربت کے باعث وقت کے گزرنے کے ساتھ ان کی شدت اور ارتعاش میں بھی اضافہ ہوجاتا ہے۔

The State vs The People – Notes on the History of Pakistan

“As long as Pakistan exists, Sindh and Balochistan do not have a future”: Sufi Munawar Laghari

Sufi Munawar Laghari is the Executive Director of Sindhi Foundation based in Washington, D.C., U.S. He is a humble follower of Sindh’s great Sufi poet, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (1689-1752). An ardent proponent of Sindh and Balochistan’s unity, Mr. Laghari has tirelessly worked for the two oppressed peoples’ freedom from Pakistan.

Sufi Laghari was invited to speak at the SAATH FORUM’s ‘Future of Pakistan Conference 2016’ in London, UK. Aside from his speech, he also presented in writing, a clear message for the Pakistani establishment that reflects the ground realities of the two nations of Sindh and Balochistan today.

We present here Sufi Laghari’s brief speech and the written message for our readers.

U.S. lawmaker accuses Pakistan of ruling through jihadist extremism

PTI | Washington DC | Sept 25, 2016: Alleging that Pakistan is using jihadist extremism to administer and is bent upon extinguishing other cultures in the country, a top U.S. lawmaker has warned Islamabad that it might be headed for 1971 like partition soon if it continues to do so.

“Those who think that they can keep Pakistan together by attacking and extinguishing other cultures with jihadist extremism should go visit Dhaka,” Congressman Brad Sherman, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Sub-Committee on Asia and the Pacific said at an event on Sunday.

Exclusive: Interview with Shafi Burfat, JSMM Chairman fighting for Sindh separation

Understanding the school of thought and jingoism of a separatist and liberal political party leader fighting for the freedom of the Sindh province in Pakistan

These words can stand dull on a piece of paper but they hold more meaning than they are credited for. There’s a fine line between understanding and agreeing. You may not agree with somebody’s take on things but if you’ve never really looked from his point of view, climbed under his skin and walked around in it, you will never understand his opinions.