Seminar on Positioning Pakistan in ?War Against Terrorism?

Pakistan is considered as an important ally in the current international coalition against terrorism. Looking back on Pakistan’s involvement in terrorism against the nations within and outside its borders, make Pakistan a ‘shaky ally.’  What are the challenges of including Pakistan into this equation? How does the promise of peace and justice can be safeguarded? UK being a major leader in this effort has a special responsibility to keep the ground realities of peoples of Pakistan in her mind

Speech by Balach Marri at Seminar on Positioning Pakistan in ?War Against Terrorism?

Role of Liberation Movements and Progressive forces with in Pakistan to Save Guard, Global Interests.

First of All I would like to thank Sindhi Baloch Forum to provide me an opportunity to moderate such an important topic of the Workshop. Let me define the first agenda of this session, which will be discussing, The Role of Liberation Movements and Progressive forces with in Pakistan to Save Guard, Global Interests. Before I put the agenda on the floor I would like to define the scope of the agenda, which means how Sindhi Baloch forum perceive this issue.

Speech by Mr. Anwar MQM at Seminar on Positioning Pakistan in ?War Against Terrorism?

Chairperson Sindhi-Baloch Forum

Conway Hall, London WC1

Mr. Chairperson

I am extremely delighted to have been invited to speak to the distinguished guests and the members of the public from your Forum. The subject of the discussion of this Seminar "Positioning Pakistan in "War Against Terrorism" is an extremely complex one. The word "Positioning" signifies choice whereas in case of Pakistan, Pakistan had no choice of positioning herself. In the governance of Pakistan or in its foreign policy, the ruling oligarchy of Punjab does not consider political or public consensus. It was imposed by a single telephonic conversation between the senior members of the U S Administration and the President General Parvez Musharraf, which according to the news reports was as follows? U.S. "What did we just say? The Taliban are your guys. Osama-bin-Laden has their protection. We have just lost 6000 people. We are in no mood for games. You join us, or face our wrath too". That in fact, decided the "Positioning" of the Government of Pakistan in "War Against Terrorism".

Speech by Sardar Attaullah Mengal in the Seminar on Positioning Pakistan in ?War Against Terrorism?

Distinguish Guests
Honorable colleagues on stage,
Ladies and Gentleman

Let me first thank you all for having accepted the invitation of this forum to participate in today’s function.
The issue under discussion, no doubt, pertains to no single country but some how or the other involves the whole globe in general, leaving no one on the surface of the earth, not to be concerned. But the degrees of concern do vary from country to country. Before I go in to the merits and demerits of operation in Afghanistan, let me first condemn the 11th September incident and express my deepest sympathies to the families of all those who perished in that incident and also my condemnation of all human miseries in Afghanistan.

Speech at Seminar on "Positioning Pakistan in the 'War Against Terrorism'" Organized by the Sindhi Baloch Forum on December 2, 2001 in London

Rubina Shaikh, PhD., Vice Chairperson, World Sindhi Congress

I would like to thank the Sindhi Baloch Forum for organizing this seminar and providing me with an opportunity to speak with you. I am delighted to see all the participants today and look forward to having a fruitful discussion during the second session of this seminar.

Before I comment on the topic of this session, let me introduce myself. I represent the World Sindhi Congress, a non-profit organization based in the UK, USA, Canada, and Sindh. The main objective of WSC is to create a better understanding of the disadvantaged status of Sindhis in Pakistan and the Sindhi people’s struggles for their human rights, including the right to self-determination.  World Sindhi Congress collaborates with several organizations working on human rights advocacy, sustainable development, equal rights for women and religious minorities, as well as conflict resolution and peaceful initiatives in Sindh.

Speech given George Anthony editor of Liberation at the Sindhi Baloch Forum on December 2nd 2001

The present war is not about the evil Taliban and their spiritual inspiration Osama bin Laden. Along with the Northern Alliance they have been the hired guns of the CIA to dispose of the Najibullah Government for several years.

This is a war about the oil from the Caspian, the US estimating as much as 270 billion barrels of it, and transporting it the quickest and cheapest route through Afghanistan. The giant US oil company Unocal has been looking at this since 1996.

The events of September 11th, real or invented, gave the US the opportunity to launch the war to install a government that has the confidence of the oil companies.

Seminar by Sindhi Baloch Forum

Press Release on 2.12.01

A seminar was organised by World Sindhi Congress and Baloch Voice on the current events in South Asia and its impact on the region. The seminar was highly attended by the Sindhis, Balochs, Siraikis, Kishmiris and representatives of the Liberation organisation. The seminar was addresses by Sardar Attaullah Mengal, Dr Rubina Shaikh and Mr George Anthony. The seminar declared their deep sympathy to the victims of the 11th September. It was emphasised in the seminar that phenomenon of the Taliban was the creation of the West in association with the ISI. Pakistani military created this genie to serve their reactionary designs in the region. He said that West supported religious fundamentalism to fight against communism. Though being secular themselves did not support secularism in our part. Sardar Attaullah said until we are not recognised, as equal citizens capable of deciding our own destiny the problem of the Pakistan will not end. He also emphasised that in the future designs involving Balochistan if the Baloch national interests are not taken into account then it will result in the sacrifices of the Baloch blood hitherto unseen.

Sindhi Baloch Forum (UK) Press Release

A meeting of Sindhi Baloch forum was held in London, 16 September 2001, chaired by Sardar Attaullah Mengal, Convener of PONAM (Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement).  The meeting was attended by Dr Rubina Shaikh, Dr Haleem Bhatti, Balach Marri, Akhtar Mengal, Ambreen Hisbani, Mehran Baluch Marri, Omar Memon and Dr Lakhu Lohanna.  

The meeting expressed deep condolences on the tragic events of USA resulting in heavy loss of life, property and bringing enormous grief for the people of USA and world.