Author: fod346@hotmail.com
Publication: Students
of Sindh University, Mehran Engineering University Jamshoro and LMC Sindh
Pakistan
Date: November 05, 2000
While we are busy in
discussing the issues of international politics, IMF, World Bank, revolution,
globalization, environment, provincial autonomy, nationalism and modern
and classic literature the molvis, mullas, talibs, and religious fanatics
are destroying ile already wounded Sindh, Balochistan and Seraiki belt
of Pakistan, economically and socially. The ban on modern English
education, activities of NGOs and progressive literature, repression of
women, many of whom live like prisoners in their own homes, is only a harsh
symptom of a larger disease. Poor peasants / farmers, villagers,
students and women of small villages and towns like Ghotki, Jacobabad,
Bhan Seedabad, Sujawal, Amrot, Shahdadpur, Arore, Dighri, Qamabar, Sanghar,
Sukkur, Tando Mohammad Khan, Pano Aqil, Mirpur Mathelo, Tando Bago, Pir
Jo Goth, Larkana, Hala, Dadu, Mithi, Shikarpur, Mirpur Sakro and Mehar,
who came to Talibs, Mullas and Madarsas to get shelter under the umbrella
of renowned religious tolerance and equity feel that they are on the front
lines of a battle for survival. They see their children in danger
of growing up without a future. Everyone wants to know where the
next generation of doctors, lawyers and other professionals will be found.
In remote rural villages
of Sindh, Balochistan and Seraiki:
1. The molvis /
mullas have decreed that women could no longer work and study and must
be veiled in the all-enveloping chador, shuttlecock burqa, they can not
marry the groom of their choice they can not refuse to marry elderly sick
married men. They have been forced to remain in their homes and even
not allowed to visit hospitals and rural health centers and to die of suffocation.
2. Small boys as
well as girls are being denied education because many teachers were women
who have not been replaced, and their male counterparts who remained in
the schools are often not paid and therefore do not show up. The
mullas and madarsa teachers have also been found involved in sodomy and
small kids often abused and have been subjected to sexual violence.
3. Photography
has been declared forbidden and even in a sporting events, display of legs
has been declared punishable offence. In remote villages and surrounding
areas of Madarsas they do not permit un-bearded participants to play games,
but they insist on wearing above-the-ankle shalwars and below-the-knees
qameezes, black turbans and chaddars slung over their shoulders.
4. Many families
of madarsa affected villages have lost the income not only of women but
also of youth who have left due to restriction, or were thrown out of villages
by mullas.
5. They justify,
facilitate, support and encourage the trafficking of AK47 and other weapons
and use of local made drugs including NASWAR, OPIUM, HEROIN and BHANG.
Their leaders and Mullas import these drugs from Afghanistan which produced
4,600 tons of opium last year, more than doubling its 1998 output, and
accounting for 75 per cent of the total world opium production for the
1998-1999 season, according to ODCCP. The total estimated production
of illicit opium for 1999 was about 6,000 metric tons, roughly 60 per cent
more than the 3,750 metric tons recorded in 1998.
6. They talk in
favour of peace but their peace is similar as "stillness after war".
There peace in those villages is similar as Curfew, because people know
that if they say any thing they will be hanged on the street and will be
shot to death and their bodies will be chopped and remain there to decompose.
7. The Mullas /
Moulvis have frequently been criticized by Western governments and non-governmental
organizations for enforcing strict rules on what women must wear, but now
they have banned men from wearing western clothes and a displaying of flesh.
Last month a Madarsa administration near Sukkur arrested a group of students
from Nawabshah for wearing trousers. The Mulla said the wearing of
tight trousers near the Madarsa violated the Islamic dress code hence the
students were not only arrested and tortured but also had their heads shaved
as punishment.
WHAT HAS TO BE DONE:
1. Re-organization
of radical-nationalist, progressive and democratic political activities.
2. Re-opening
of Study Circles, libraries, ideological debates.
3. NGO / CBO activities
and networking.
4. Cultural activities,
musical programs.
5. Anniversaries
of legends.
6. Anti fundamentalism
lectures based on tolerant, moderate mystic teachings of Shah Latif , Buley
Shah, Hafiz, Sami, Sachal, Kabir, Omar Khayam. Farid and others.
7. Establishment
of Coeducation Schools and colleges in interior Sindh.
8. Facilitating
and encouraging the English language, computer studies and internet use
in villages.
9. Coordination
between media, human rights and advocacy organization, NGOs and political
parties.
10. Revival of
progressive and democratic Sindh of late sixties and seventies.
11. Letter of
protest by concerned citizens of world to Pakistani government and developed
countries.
We trust that you will
continue to support struggle against the terror and horror of expected
fundamentalist rule in Peace loving Sindh.
