Archive for the ‘Activity’ Category

Hyderabad (July 24, 2010) Civil society members emphasized the need to strengthen the parliament through initiating citizens dialogues to avert chances of taking over the political power by military generals in Pakistan. Sindh Advocate General Yousuf Leghari said in fact the 18th Amendment could not provide complete provincial autonomy demanding Sindh civil society organizations but it has given little to small provinces and for this credit should go to PPP-led government.
He was speaking in a dialogue “Citizen Speak-Policy Consultation on Implementation of 18th Amendments & Citizens Concerns” organized by We Journalists, Institute for Social Movements (ISM) Pakistan in collaboration with Strengthening Democracy through Parliamentary Development (SDPD) UNDP at a local hotel. Leghari chairing the meeting advised civil society members to design their recommendations regarding different issues with public consensus and send it to the government, legislators and political parties for making a voice stronger. “Who stops you not to do this. If some points are lacking in the 18th Amendments we can suggest the PPP government to fulfill the flaws the people pointing out.”
He said each and every thing comes under corporations, which will not benefit the provinces if the parliament announces provincial autonomy. “You should not imagine to get complete autonomy till the corporations exist.” He said in fact the constitution guarantees the equal rights to every citizen but in practice the things are quite different.
Sindh AG urged the need to promote professional education in Sindh. “Unless you cannot produce brilliant professionals, how can you justify capability to run your affairs in case of getting complete provincial autonomy,” he questioned. As far as the question of implementation of the constitution is concerned, it is the government’s responsibility and in this regard civil society groups can play constructive role to pressurize the authorities through initiating dialogues, staging protest rallies, raising voice through media channels and other positive options you have. He said the royalty on oil, gas and other natural resources is the right of provinces and they should be benefitted with it.
Karamat Ali, Director Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler) said “on this juncture we should not oppose the decision of 18th Amendment because it is the first time the parliament has taken initiative. We should strengthen the democratic institutions and struggle further for its sovereignty.”
He said more than 20 civil society organizations and some individuals have filed a petition in the Supreme Court to counter the petitions filed by non-democratic forces, which oppose the 18th amendment. He realized the fact that in the process of the 18th Amendment government has taken decisions in the haphazard way and the people think differently. He said the democratic institutions should be made sovereign.
The speakers called for making efforts to introduce 19th Amendments to protect the basic rights of the people. Secondly, they said, we should see the objectives of the legislators, who brought the 18th Amendment hurriedly. But they were agreed that “it is the first time the parliament has taken decision and we should respect it. In the past only military dictators had manipulated the constitution.
In comparison, the speakers said neighbouring Indian judiciary and democratic institutions are more powerful than that of Pakistan. Because, here all the efforts made by the public are destroyed by certain powers, who sabotaged the constitution and crushed the democratic approach by force. In result we could not protect the parliament, representing the populace of the country.
Some of the speakers criticized the government for ignoring small provinces, depriving them of their right to natural resources. They allegedly said actually Punjab’s dominance is creating problems. “Earlier, there was notion that Punjab dominates in military but now it is reality that the province dominates the parliament, have influence on entire decision making,” they reacted.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement MNA Sallahuddin, Abrar Qazi, Barrister Zameer Ghumro, Mustafa Baloch of SPO, Comrade Hussain Bux Thebo, Zulfiqar Shah of ISM-Pak, Jaffar Memon of We Journalist, Punhal Sario, Veerji Kolhi, Iqbal Mallah, Taj Maree, Dr Ashothama of HRCP Sindh Taskforce, Dr Nazir Shaikh, Jabbar Bhatti and others addressed the crowded gathering.
They said when the government gets taxes it should fulfill its responsibility to ensure each citizen is with job, having three meals, all children are going to schools and ever body have access to health and other basic facilities. The speakers were of the opinion that they should work together to see the parliament empowered and democratic institutions strengthened, so that no body from certain authorities dare to challenge the people’s elected assemblies.

Report by ‘We Journalists’

We Journalists, an effective voice of media people, human rights activists, environmentalists and political thinkers, organized a cultural activity on the occasion of Aman Ittehad – Solidarity Day, jointly with CPCS, Women Action Forum (WAF) and Saranga Literary Society on Friday, January 1, 2010 at Hyderabad Press Club. The event with concise introductory speeches, poetry recitation and lyrical music attracted a large number of people ranging from civil society, literature, journalists and teachers to intellectuals to share their little contribution to promote love, peace and harmony in the society.

Iqbal Tareen hailing from Virginia , United States , presided the function, while Jami Chandio of CPCS, Jaffar Memon of We Journalists, Mahesh Kumar President Hyderabad Press Club and Amar Sindhu of WAF also spoke on the occasion.

Ustad Mazhar Ali was invited to perform songs from the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, a great Sufi poet, to open the dialogue and cultural event.

In his welcome address, Jaffar Memon told the audience that this programme under the banner of Aman Ittehad is being organized at around 50 locations of different cities and towns of Pakistan– from Khyber to Karachi– to involve the people in large numbers to raise voice together to promote peace and harmony in the society, as increasing fears of terrorism and restlessness have panicked the peace-loving people all over the country.

Memon on the occasion read out the joint statement, saying “as the new decade begins, citizens from across Pakistan will reaffirm their belief in the indivisibility of peace and their commitment to struggle for democratic governance, rule of law, justice, and a life of dignity for all.”

The Solidarity Day, organized under Aman Ittehad– a citizens’ platform connecting trade unions, media, students, lawyers, youth organizations, minority groups, NGOs, academia, and business, Jaffar Memon said will express a resolve to strive for stronger democracy and democratic institutions.

Identifying extreme inequality and disenfranchisement as a cause of extremism, the Solidarity Day will demand that the state provides equal opportunities to all its citizens. It calls for the reform of all state institutions as well as governance regulations and rules pertaining to key sectors of the economy in order to ensure efficiency, equity and accountability, he said.

Aman Ittehad calls for a Social Contract between the state and the citizens based on the 1940 resolution establishing equal rights of all citizens, provinces and nationalities. The social contract must recognize the primacy of ownership of resources at the provincial level as well as the need for their equitable distribution among the federating units. It also calls upon the state and citizens to celebrate diversity promote pluralism and ensure that the function of the state is separated from personal religious belief. In order to reverse the trend of spiraling violence, it also identifies the need to reduce the trust deficit at all levels – between citizens and the state including its institutions; and, also amongst citizens.

Iqbal Tareen, who presently is in Pakistan, appreciated the organizers for the impressive event, which attracted people from different walks of life to sit together on the common understanding just to promote peace. He threw light on the sentiments of terrorism and condemned horrible incidents occurred recently, loss of precious lives and property, ever-increasing uncertainty and urged upon the participants to address this with extending unity among the people like they have come together today on the Aman Ittehad—Solidarity Day.

Tareen said State and Religion are two different things and should be dealt with separately. There is no need of this combination in the society, which is struggling to strengthen democracy. For restoration of peace in Pakistan all the people have to decide how to deal with this phenomenon. He called the nations living in Pakistan with combination like a rainbow and said all the colours have their natural beauty. He said small nations have never tried to breach the national agreements. They always struggled for unanimity, but he said, irony is that certain elements have always pushed the small nations to the wall and in result the people belonging to small nations always felt differently.

Talking about the particular case of Sindh, which is rich in natural resources, agriculture and its more contribution to national exchequer through different resources, Iqbal Tareen said “the people of Sindh should realize why they are not capable to represent their province on “negotiation table”, which decides the destiny of small nations in Pakistan . He emphasized the need to extend collaboration to recognize their right and sit together with the decision-makers of the country. Because, he said, looking to the changing world scenario we should realize the fact that the world nations are going ahead to a placeless society. There will be no borders in future. In this situation peace is the only way out to learn how to live together with national harmony.

Jami Chandio sharing about the events organized in different cities to express solidarity with each other disregard of their association with political ideology, religion and faiths, said terrorists are on rampage in the society, killing innocent people and spoiling peace. To counter this phenomenon, Chandio said, we all should come together, it is our responsibility. For this, he said, Aman Ittehad is broad platform where all the people struggling for restoration of peace should be part of this “movement for peace”.
He said the Solidarity Day will mark the beginning of a citizen struggle for their right to a life of dignity. He calls upon all citizens to join this struggle for peace and a democratic state and society.

He said terrorists in the all forms are in small number. The majority is of those wanting peace. Therefore, he appealed to all the participants to come together and light a candle each to contribute for the return of peace in the society, which presently is under countless threats. He said on this occasion all the people belonging to all four provinces and nations have put their signatures on a New Contract between the provinces.

Mahesh Kumar, President of Hyderabad Press Club expressed thanks to the organizers for choosing venue at Hyderabad Press Club for this august gathering for a cause. He said the participation of saner elements from political ideologies, civil society organizations, literature, human rights activists and journalists is inspiring for the wide majority, who are fighting terrorism and discrimination. He said this platform can be effective, because now the restoration of peace should be on top agenda for all the people of this country.

Amar Sindhu of WAF said we are living in a war-like situation and in this atmosphere talking about the restoration of peace is a great effort. She said the foundations of State in which we live are on the basis of unfairness. So there is a need to redefine this state now. There should be consensus that there would be no discrimination with anybody at any level. There would be no exploitation. In this connection, Sindhu said, this movement for peace is inspiring. Because, she believes that instead of military forces people themselves can restore peace through their mind change and unity.

The second session of poetry recitation to promote peace was also inspiring, attracted wide number to appreciate the poets for their creativity. This mushara was chaired by Taj Joyo, Secretary Sindhi Language Authority (SLA). Ali Dost Ajiz, Hafeez Kumbhar, Iqbal Rind, Irshad Leghari, Saleem Kumbhar, Gulshan Leghari, Abdul Rehman Sial and Qazi Manzar Hayat shared their creative moments with the audience. Ishaque Samejo of Saranga Literary Society conducted the session.

At the last, Ustad Sadiq Faeer and Shafi Faqeer with their musician teams performed songs of sufi poets.

Earlier the wide banner –Social Contract–was displayed for participants to put their comments and signature over it for national consent.

HYDERABAD: Leaders of political parties and civil society organisations have rejected the National Finance Commission award formula based only on population and demanded that the issue of provincial autonomy be resolved before announcing the award.

They said that without Sindh getting control over its resources, problems would keep cropping up in the NFC. They were speaking at a consultative workshop on ‘Upcoming NFC award’ organised by ‘We Journalists,’ an organisation of journalists, at the press club here on Sunday.

Former PPP Senator Taj Haider said political leaders and activists should continue to raise issues and make demands in order to get what was their due.

Relying on figures compiled by Sindh’s non-statutory member on the NFC Dr Qiaser Bengali, Mr Haider said that the province had suffered losses of Rs193 billion over the past five years in sales tax on utilities like electricity, gas and telephone and the amount was increasing.

‘We should demand restoration of octroi and zila tax that was abolished through an ordinance by the last Pakistan Muslim League-N government.’ He said that Sindh collected 46 per cent of the country’s taxes.

He expressed the hope that the constitutional reforms committee, headed by Raza Rabbani, would recommend a suitable package. He, however, expressed apprehensions that sales tax might be reintroduced by the federal government in the shape of value added tax, and said that some indications had been made in this regard.

‘We should be aware of such googlies of Murali Dharan and Shane Warne because we can’t trust those who have been robbing us,’ he said.

He said that the Pakistan People’s Party had floated the draft of the18th amendment which specifically addressed the issues of the NFC and Council of Common Interests.

He said that Sindh’s population was 27 to 28 per cent of the country’s population, but it was not taken into consideration.

Barrister Zamir Ghumro gave a detailed presentation on NFC award on the basis of a resolution tabled by Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Sardar Ahmed in Sindh Assembly in 2003.

He opposed inclusion of provincial taxes in the terms of reference of the NFC award and said that the Article 160 of the Constitution envisaged only vertical distribution between the federal government and provinces. But, he said, the NFC had ignored constitutional provisions by taking up horizontal distribution leading to disputes among provinces.

He said that the terms of multiple criteria, divisible pool and consensus had been devised to rob Sindh of its tax revenue. These terms, he added, had no place in the constitution.

He said that under Article 143 of the Constitution, GST on services was a residual subject of provinces and provinces must start recovering it.

He said that the PML-N government had unlawfully abolished octroi tax, promising to distribute a certain percentage of GST on the basis of recovery from each province. He said that Sindh’s calculation was 46 per cent but it was getting 34 per cent.

He urged democratic forces to jointly oppose NFC proceedings which, according to him, were aimed at overstepping the constitutional mandate and usurping tax and non-tax resources of smaller provinces in the name of consensus.

He said that the Sindh Assembly’s resolution of 2003 called upon the federal government to maintain separate accounts of taxes of each province but it had a single account of each tax.

He predicted that on the basis of conservative estimates of this year’s tax revenue, Sindh would lose more than Rs10,000 billion over five years if the NFC award on the basis of horizontal distribution and multiple criteria was accepted by the Sindh government.

Awami Tehrik chief Rasool Bux Palijo called for fixing priorities regardless of what Sindh was getting in the NFC award. He said: ‘You may take these paisas but what about the question of ownership of resources.’

Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party leader Dr Qadir Magsi raised the issue of provincial autonomy and control over resources of Sindh. He said that any demand on the basis of constitution which had not been able to protect itself would be an exercise in futility.

He said that the federal finance minister himself had claimed a recovery of Rs2000 billion from Sindh, the amount collected after corruption and maladministration.

He emphasised the need for studying the case of Sindh from new angles. He termed the present exercise in the NFC as a photo session.

The Sindh Democratic Forum’s Abrar Kazi said that resources of the province were being transferred to other provinces.

Summing up the discussion, Sindh United Party’s Jalal Mehmood Shah said that any NFC award based on only population stood rejected. He said that provinces should get GST on services and the award formula should be based on 70:30 ratio.

He criticised President Asif Zardari’s decision to include royalty on oil and gas in the award and said that it was an issue pertaining to the CCI. He said that NFC proceedings were initiated to skip the question of provincial autonomy.

Shah Mohammad Shah, SNF leader Ayub Shar, Amir Bhambhro of Sindh National Party, Nazeer Memon, Javed Qazi, Amar Sindhu, Karamat Ali and others also took part in the discussion.

“We journalists” organization, is a non profitable body and we are serving for sindh with our full determination and strengths. Due to this a 7 member delegation of our organization conduct a two days visit to Baddo jabal (Mountain), Manchur lake, Kaaiee valley, Naing sharif ( near Bhit jabal / mountain ) for fact findings on the ground.

Delegation were consists on following media persons.
1) Jaffar Memon (Editor Daily Sindh Hyderabad)
2) Mahesh Kumar (Editor Daily Halchal Hyderabad and General
Secretary Hyderabad Press Club)
3) Lala Rehman Samoo (Ex president Hyderabad Press Club)
4) Khalid Khokhar (Editor Daily Sindhu Hyderabad)
5) Iqbal Mallah (Assistant Editor Daily Awami Awaz Karachi)
6) Imdad Soomro (In charge Editorial Page Daily Ibrat
Hyderabad)
7) Ishaque Mangrio (Renowned Feature and story writer of Sindh)

FACT FINDINGS

Baddo Jabal (Mountain)
Baddo Jabal is about 60 kilometers apart from Sewhan Sharif (Taluka head quarter of district Sewhan) in 1995 the then chief minister of Sindh (Sayed Abdullah Shah) initiated the two major projects (1- institute for chest disease and tuber classes, for serving the ill peoples of country. 2- police training centre for Dadu district for 1000 recruits, in order to maintain the law and order situations in hilly areas of this district and urban areas as well) both projects are ninety percent near the completion, but after the topple down of than ppp government, ongoing works were stopped by successors and it is interestingly said that projects initiated by than ppps government ands stopped by their opponents are being not re initiated by current rulers of ppp for completions of both projects where almost 15 crore rupees have been already expended. The health/ police department of sindh government is ready to hand over the institute and training centre to other private parties for their own purposes. This is a fact, and needs to raise the voice internationally against the wishes and wills of our health / police departments.

Manchur Lake
Due to huge inflow of saline water in Manchur lake the hole ecology of Manchur lake has been changed and because of this fishermen’s of lake are brutally affected and goes under the below poverty line. It is our hard comment but a fact they are looking like beggars. The cultivated land around the Manchur Lake also seems to be the victim of seepage and not in a position to cultivate like past. this is to be happened for the lake of planning, and needs to balance between inflow and outflow. Here is the question, which is responsible to maintain the ecology of Manchur ? who is the responsible for the resettlement of fishermens, and what is the prime responsibility of present government of Pakistan peoples party ?. What voice we can rose for the restoration of Manchur lakes ecology? We think all questions are needs to a little support at national and international level, but who can do this big and serious job?

Interaction
During the visit we interact with the local residence of the whole areas, intellectuals, poets, representatives of different civil society organizations, and journalists from across the Dadu district. Where we concluded that a committee should constitute for the promotion of hilly areas for tourism and protection of Manchur Lake. In this respect an 6 members action committee constituted to aimed at the above mentioned purpose.

Members of the committee
1) Akbar Lashari convener
2) khalid khokhr member
3)Abbass khoso member
4) Hakim khan noohani member
5) Mahesh kumar member
6) Ishaque Mangrio member

HYDERABAD, Nov 9: Councillors and NGO activists said at a seminar here on Sunday that council members were never consulted about preparation of budget and were always asked to pass the document prepared by municipal officers and secretaries.

The seminar on “Budget allocations in local government for marginalised sections of society” was organised by the South Asia Partnership in collaboration with We Journalists at a hotel. The speakers said that budget was passed every year without any input from councillors and nazims.

Qazi Basheer, former director of local government, said that he had observed in the course of his service that officers were in the habit of just modifying the budget of outgoing fiscal year to prepare a new budget.

He called for budgets that should be rights-based and poor-friendly and said that British rulers were people-friendly because they used to take feedback from local population before allocating funds.

Majority of speakers including councillors and NGOs’ activists who were working in local bodies sector were of consensus opinion that local bodies’ members were not consulted in preparation of budgets.

They hit out at parliamentarians and said that they had no vision to improve the lot of their electorates.

Sarwar Abbasi, a councillor from Larkana, said that councillors did not have any say in local government affairs. Funds meant for union councils often found their way to meeting fuel expenses of nazims and paying salaries of staff, he said, adding that even Nisar Khuhro, MPA from his area, did not visit his constituency.

Javed Bhatti, an NGO activist from Badin, said that they normally came to know about passing of district government’s budget through newspapers. Taluka municipal officers and union councils’ secretaries prepared budget after mutual consultation, he said.

He said that funds out of monthly grant for UCs should be utilised for carrying out development works in the area.

Dr Rubi Dharam Das, a member of Umerkot district council, said that members were handed stacks of budget documents in which they had zero input. “We normally pass ready-made budgets because influence is always there,” she said.

Ali Hassan Mahar of Village Development Organisation Ghotki said that the first round of LB polls were considered as exercise and there was hope that in the second round things would start improving but unfortunately situation had only worsened.

He criticised even parliamentarians for their lack of vision. “Around Rs500,000 were spent Sindh chief minister’s visit to Ghotki but what our MPA demanded of him was that a hospital should be named after Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. He didn’t ask the chief executive to give equipment to the hospital, upgrade it or ensure availability of doctors,” he said.

SAP coordinator Zulfikar Shah dilated on the question of provincial autonomy without which, he believed, conditions could not improve at grass-root level.

Sindh had a surplus of Rs4 million but then onwards it was having a deficit budget. Only three per cent and seven per cent improvement had been witnessed in road and sewerage sector during last eight years which was not appreciable.

He called for activating 268 monitoring committees and decentralisation of political structure with an effective bureaucracy and supported women’s representation in the system.

Yamin Memon, PhD in development sector, said that present LB system had been borrowed from the developed countries where it had been working successfully.

Actually, political will was required to make the system workable with proper monitoring, he stressed.

Jaffar Memon of We Journalists, Ghaffar Malik, Iqbal Mallah and Nazeer Qureshi also spoke at the seminar

The Activities reported by Dawn