Latest news with #TheSindhudeshGlobalFreedomCharter
India Gazette
23-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
JSMM urges global recognition for Sindhudesh, calls for action against Pakistani oppression
Darmstadt [Germany], May 23 (ANI): The Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM), led by chairman Shafi Burfat, has made an urgent request to the United Nations, international human rights organisations, democratic nations, and global civil groups to acknowledge Sindhudesh as an independent nation and denounce Pakistan's ongoing military control and systematic oppression of the Sindhi people. In a detailed political and humanitarian document entitled The Sindhudesh Global Freedom Charter, JSMM emphasised Sindh's rich civilisational history and its ongoing battle against colonial rule, first under British domination and then under what it refers to as a 'Punjabi-dominated military-security state' in Pakistan. The Charter claims that Sindh, which is home to the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation, was never a willing participant in the establishment of Pakistan. JSMM contended that the inclusion of Sindh in Pakistan in 1947 constituted a betrayal of its national aspirations and historical identity. According to JSMM, Sindh currently exists under a form of colonial rule, deprived of sovereignty and controlled through military and political oppression. JSMM has accused the Pakistani government of exploiting Sindh's abundant natural resources, including oil, gas, coal, ports, and agricultural land, while leaving the region in poverty. It asserted that state-sponsored resettlement initiatives are being employed to change Sindh's demographic profile, diminishing Sindhis to a minority in their land. The Charter also points out the environmental damage caused by the redirection of the Indus River, which has led to the desertification of fertile Sindhi territory. The statement firmly condemned Pakistan's security forces for perpetrating serious human rights abuses in Sindh, including enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings of political activists, journalists, and student leaders. It mentioned that anti-terrorism legislation is being misused to target secular and nationalist movements, whereas religious extremists receive support from the state. JSMM reiterated its call for a free, secular, and democratic Republic of Sindhudesh, rooted in principles of equality, minority rights, and social welfare. It referenced international regulations, such as the UN Charter and the ICCPR, to advocate for Sindh's right to self-determination. In a particular message to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India, JSMM appealed for moral, political, and practical backing, stressing the historical and cultural connections between Sindh and India. Additionally, it urged international organisations to dispatch observers, denounce human rights violations, and aid Sindh's peaceful liberation movement. (ANI)
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Sindhudesh as an independent nation: JSMM demands UN recognition
ANI image The Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM), a Sindhi nationalist group led by exiled chairman Shafi Burfat, has issued a renewed plea to the United Nations and other international communities, urging recognition of Sindhudesh as an independent nation and calling attention to what it describes as sustained political repression and human rights violations in Pakistan 's Sindh province. In a comprehensive political manifesto titled The Sindhudesh Global Freedom Charter, JSMM has approached the United Nations, international human rights bodies, democratic governments, and global civil society organizations, arguing that the Sindhi people are subject to a form of internal colonialism under Pakistan's military and political establishment. In a direct appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian public, JSMM cited historical and cultural ties between Sindh and India, requesting moral and political solidarity. The group also called on international institutions to send human rights observers, document alleged violations, and engage with Sindh's demand for peaceful self-determination. JSMM alleges that demographic engineering through state-sponsored resettlement has diluted Sindh's ethnic composition, threatening the linguistic and cultural identity of the Sindhi people. Environmental degradation, particularly the diversion of the Indus river's waters, has compounded local grievances, with widespread desertification of once-fertile lands cited as an ecological consequence of state policy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025: Steel Suppliers From Mexico At Lowest Prices (Take A Look) Steel Suppliers | search ads Search Now Undo The statement firmly condemned Pakistan's security forces for committing serious human rights abuses in Sindh, including enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings of political activists, journalists, and student leaders. It mentioned that anti-terrorism legislation is being misused to target secular and nationalist movements, whereas religious extremists receive support from the state. Positioning itself as a secular, democratic movement, JSMM has reiterated its vision for a sovereign Republic of Sindhudesh, grounded in principles of equality, minority protections, and social justice. The group invokes international law including the United Nations Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to support Sindh's right to self-determination. Long before modern borders were drawn, Sindh flourished as the heart of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation which was a sophisticated urban society that emerged over 5,000 years ago along the banks of the Indus river. With advanced city planning, intricate craftsmanship, and a vibrant mercantile culture, Sindh was once a beacon of early human progress. Mohenjo-daro, one of the civilisation's most iconic sites, still stands as a testament to the region's intellectual and architectural legacy. This deep-rooted historical identity is central to the Sindhi nationalist narrative, which views contemporary political struggles as a continuation of a civilizational arc interrupted by colonial conquests and post partition state formation. I n the colonial era, Sindh existed as a distinct administrative region under British India before being annexed, and eventually was re-established as a separate province in 1936. Advocates for Sindhi autonomy argue that this period fostered a unique political consciousness, one that emphasized cultural plurality and regional pride. The Partition of 1947, however, redrew not just boundaries but identities. Over subsequent decades, Sindhi activists have pointed to a pattern of political marginalization and centralized control, arguing that their historical autonomy has been systematically pulled apart. Framing Sindh's struggle as both civilisational and contemporary, the charter situated the region within the historical legacy of the Indus valley civilisation, asserting that Sindh was forced into joining Pakistan in 1947 and has since faced cultural erasure and economic exploitation. The document claims that Sindh's resources including oil, gas, coal, fertile farmland, and deep-sea ports have been systematically extracted to benefit other regions, while the local population remains economically marginalised. While JSMM's claims are politically charged and remain unacknowledged by the Pakistani state, the charter marks a significant step in internationalizing what has largely been a domestic conflict.
