Press Conference by the Representatives of Siraiki Cultural & Literary Organizations and Political Workers.

Respectable Press and Electronic Media journalists,

We, the representatives of Siraiki cultural & literary organizations, students and political workers, pronounce for you and for the Government of the Democratic Alliance through you few out of the large list of the problems and the demands of the Siraiki people of CC:WINDOWShinhem.screntral Pakistan. Our first request is not to dub these voices of the weak as anti-Pakistan etc.

1.Constitutional Rights of the Siraiki People;

In the best interest of the nation, we perceive that it is time to take few constitutional steps leading to peaceful formation of the Siraiki province which remains longtime demand of Siraiki people and the people of all the provinces except Punjab:
Thus we demand equal representation of Siraikis in the Senate, the IRSA as well as our due share in the NFC Award. We also demand holding of a separate session of the Siraiki members of the Punjab Assembly in Multan twice a year. And we demand immediate establishment of an Administrative Region of the Siraiki Districts leading to formation the Siraiki province.

2.The Linguistic and Cultural Rights

The Education Policy written by the previous government and published by the present governments’ Ministry of Education offers a trilingual formula at primary level which is English, Urdu and one regional language. We demand that the early education should be imparted in mother tongue, a principle followed by Japanese, Chinese, Russians and all the developed nations of the world. We demand Siraiki as compulsory subject at school and college levels, start of the Siraiki and Pashto Departments in the Gomal University, commencement of the approved Department of Linguistics in Quaid-e Azam University , Departments of Pakistani languages in all the Universities and appointment of lecturers of Siraiki language in Pakistan Study Centers in all universities.

We demand fool proof survey of languages in the coming Population Census.
About Press and Electronic Media;


The only national paper the 60 million Siraikis have today is the small venture “Daily Jhok” (Multan), which is being published despite the countless pressures and want of resources.

The numerous Siraiki TV Channels work under non-Siraiki control which turns them eventually anti-Siraiki. The upper hierarchy of these channels consists of non Siraikis and the Siraiki speaking workers are subjected to lowest subordination, discrimination and job insecurity. Language distortion and anti-majority political propaganda are the irritants now commonly perceived by the conscious viewers.

We still have good hopes with these TV Channels, and want to convey to them that opening of these channels has resulted from decades’ long struggle of Siraiki people. Please do not shatter our dreams.

We remind these media channels not to exploit the large business and human resource of the Siraiki region against of Siraiki peoples.

4.About Existing Political Situation;

We request the civil society not to pitch itself against popular electoral mandate and verdict of the majority, or the civil society will become a derogatory misnomer like the Establishment. The people of Pakistan have not yet forgotten how the civil society was co-opted by military regime immediately after the Martial Law of October 1999.

Unluckily, the street power of the urban centers always worked against the interests of the native and the poor. Let loose again, this time such a street power will uproot the very foundation of the country.


We also condemn intervention of the right wing political parties in the colleges and the universities aimed at reemergence of the wave of fascism among students.

6.Some Facts about Siraiki;

We, the Siraiki speaking people of Pakistan are known as the Siraikis. We did never perceive ourselves as Punjabi. And we love Punjabis as good neighbors and a great culture. We call our region ‘Wasaib’. A common Siraiki remains totally unfamiliar with the term ‘ South Punjab ’. The Siraiki area lies in the middle of Pakistan territory. In other words, we are Pakistan-locked and thereby compelled to better this country in our own interests and survival. By no logic we can be labeled as anti-Pakistan. In fact, no Pakistani deserves being denounced with such labels.

The over emphasized national ‘oneness’ was at purpose: it paved way for disproportionate share in political power, opportunities and resources for a few language groups. Similarly, people’s assertion today on cultural identities is also at purpose: in addition to undo threat of elimination, they want proportionate share in political power, opportunities and resources
Mushtaq Gaadi
======================================================
Friends,

As you read in the circular Email by Mushtaq, the ‘Draft Press Release’ which was discussed by Jhok-Mela friends on 19th of May, and was pronounced in the Demo on 20th, included a demand for immediate formation of Siraiki Administrative region which would lead to formation of Siraiki province. The same was carried on by some News papers (see attachment). Please come to know that ‘Administrative region’ and ‘Autonomous region’ are the notions used for the regions on their way to achieving status of a ‘province’ or a ‘state’.

This demand is a step forward in the movement for the Siraiki Province. Just like the case of ‘Provincial autonomy’. Provincial autonomy includes many things which will materialize through a set of actions, one being ‘abolishing the Concurrent List’, for instance. Formation of Siraiki province will also be materialized through set of actions, immediate formation of Administrative region can be one.

This we demand both as preemption to the loss Siraikis will face once additional powers are given to the Central Punjab dominated Punjab province and the North dominated NWFP in result of Provincial autonomy, and as a step to enter into the process of formation of the Siraiki province.

Equally strong voices are these days heard from NWFP reflecting concerns of the Siraikis of the ‘Southern part of the Province against increasing domination of the Northern (Pakhtun) part of the province. A standard demand from the Siraiki parts of both the provinces—South of the Punjab Province, and South of the NWFP—seem to agree on the single demand, immediate formation of the Siraiki Administrative regions in Punjab and NWFP.

These can be made part of the Constitutional Package under discussion, or a Fresh ‘Constitutional Package for Siraiki area’ can be materialized by the current democratic set up which have great responsibility of setting the country on path of lasting peace and reconciliation.

This package for Siraikis will mainly benefit from the sub Article (3) of the Article 1 of ‘Part I Introductory’ of the Constition which reads;

[2] [Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)] may by law admit into the Federation new States or areas on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.]

To incorporate an amendment in the sub article (2) of the same which reads;

The territories of Pakistan shall comprise :- - - - - - The territories would now include:

(1) To include Siraiki Administrative region of the Punjab province and (2) the Siraiki Administrative Region of NWFP (or Pakhtunkhwa), or as the constitutionlist would conclude.

Can this be proper time to remind active politicians, or is this untimely, you may know better.
Ahsan Wagha

Dear Friends,
This brief discussion has brought initial agreement on the Goal and some suggestions for action. The suggestions are:

1.
Writing a brief about Seraiki national issue with some demarcation of the Proposed Seraiki area ---

2.
Preparation of a Comprehensive, consensus based document.
3.
A strong, representative Seraiki delegation to meet and to take up the case with political leaders,
4.
Propagate the Constitutional demands of Seraikis through media by holding Demos. and Press conferences, and
5.
Commemorating a ‘Seraiki-demands-day’ throughout the Wasaib i.e. holding peaceful meetings and activities everywhere on the same day with same demands.

6.
Care be taken to keep away from serving the objectives of the Center, or the Establishment ----------------------------------------------- Muhammad Yar Qaisrani

Please come with more suggestions, or at least participate by commenting on these suggestions.
Dr. Ahsan Wagha

سلام و علیکم !
سب وسیب کو سلام،سچ تا اے ھیں کہ اے سب گالھیں ٹھیک ھن !لیکین کیا اساں صرف گالھیں کریندے رھے ویسوں ؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟

کیا انھاں دا کیوں نتیجہ وی نکلسی یا تساں اساکوں (وسیب سوݨے خواب ڈیکھیدے پیوے!؟

کیا تساں اے میٹینگ کر سگسوں ؟تساڈی وجہ ساگوں اج وسیب دا نا قومی دھارے وڄ کھانی!

لیکن کیوں گال نھیں ! لیکن ھݨر تساں اگوں تھیوں تا پورا وسیب تساڈے پڄھوں ھوسے!

کیا تساں اج تک وزیراعظم یا اصف زرداری یامولانہ فضل الرحمن یا اے این پی یا الطاف حسین نال کوی گال بات کیتی ھیوے؟

کیا تساں اج تک وزیراعظم یا اصف زرداری یامولانہ فضل الرحمن یا اے این پی یا الطاف حسین نال کوی ملاقات کیتی ھیوے؟

اج دا دور میڈیا دا دور ھے کیا تساں کوی میڈیا سیل قایم کرݨ دی کوشش کیتی ھیوے ؟

کیا تساں صرف زبانی جمع خرڄ کریندے پیوے یا کریندے رھے ویسوں؟

کیا کوی پریس کانفریس کیتی ھیوے ؟

آواز میں شدت کیوں نھیں ھے؟کیا اساں خیریت منگدے پیسے؟ حق کیتے یتیموں والی صورت ڄنڳی نھیں ھوندی؟حق کیتے آواز بلند
کݨی پمندی ھے۔

اگر پاکستان اڄ کوی انقلاب ایا تا او سرائيكی علاقے وڄوں اوسے تے اے انقلاب سب تو پہلے انہاں سردارں دا تݙا ڄیسے انشاالللہ
سرائيكی دانشور تے سرائيكی سیاست داں( جس میں تاج محمد لنگاھ ،مجید کانجو،معین الدین،وغرھ کوی بھرپور احتجاج نھیں کر سگے اج تک۔

اے لوگ ڈردن پتا کانی اے کیوں خوف اڄ ھن؟

بس اے لوگ فوٹو ڄھکوا تے خوش تھیندن باقی الللہ الللہ خیر صلا۔ان سیاست دانوں کو جو فریب ݙیندن کھلے لگن تے گنتی وی پوری نا تھیوے ݙا
تک گݨ تے بھول ونیجے تے وال شروع تھیونیجے ھک کنوں۔

پکستان دی سیاست وڄ ھر پارٹی اپݨے اپݨے مفاد دی خاطر کام کریندے پن۔لیکن سرائيكی پارٹیاں ݙوجھے دی مفاد دی خاطر سرائيكی مفاد قربان کیتی ویندن!
انہاں دی نظر وڄ سرائيكی مفاد دی کوی اہمیت کانی!اے لوگ ڄور ھن،ݙاکو ھن،اے لوگ سرائيكیاں دا قتل کیتی ویندن، سرائيكیاں دا مفاد دا قتل،کیوں کے
اج تک اے لوگ ھک پلیٹ فارم تے کٹھے نھیں تھی سگے کیوں جو انہاں دے مفاد مختلف ھن،اگر انہاں دے مفاد وڄ سرائيكیت ھوے ھا تا اے کٹھے ھووین
ھا۔

ھر سطع تے بھرپور احتجاج کیوں کے اے خوب صورت موقع وال ھت کانہ اوسے ۔اج موقع ھے اساں سرائيكی صوبہ گھن سگدے سے ۔اج والی حالت وال یا اج والا موقح وال کانہ ملسے۔پاکستان دے ھر اخبار دے ھر کالم نویس کو خط لکھݨ دی ضرورت ھے اے اساݙا حق ھے اے کوی جرم کانی۔پاکستان دی سپریم کورٹ وڄ پٹیشن دایر کیتی ونجے کہ سرائيكی صوبہ ھوݨ بݨیاں ونجے۔کیوں کہ سرائيكی صوبہ نہ ھووݨ دی وجہ ساگوں سرائيكی قوم تکلیف وڄ ھے۔


میں سفیر لاشاری دا زکر ضرور کریساں بہوں خوب صورت شاعر ھن۔تے الللہ انہاں کو لمبی عمر ݙیوے

Shikwa Jawab e Shikwa

Post edited by: fmiana, at: 2008/05/31 01:43

KALABAGH

Dear Seraiki friends


It is a great pleasure for me to share with you that Seraiki Social Forum is organizing a seminar on "proposed constitutional package and demands of seraiki nation" in Marriot Hotel Islamabad on June 28,2008 at 3.00pm ,The Duputy speaker of National Assembly Mr. Faisal Kareem Kundi (Name written wrongly in the last email sorry) will be the chief guest of the seminar while many Seraiki MNAs are also participating in the seminar.Keeping in view we are also trying our best to confirm the participation of Mr Asif Ali Zardari in the event and we have already sent him the invitation.

Renowned seraiki intellectuals,writers,political leaders and civil society representatives will speak on this occasion.

You are cordially invited to attend the seminar.

Thanks.

In friendly
G.M.Ghanjera
Convener
Seraiki Social Forum
PH:0322-8384223

میں دعا گو ھاں الللہ سرائیکی اشو تے اساݙی آواز ایوان بالا وڄ ھک طاقت بن کر ابھرے۔
میں اتھاں ھک گال کریساں کہ تساں میڈیا دے کردار کو ناں بھولیوے ۔میڈیا دا کردار ہمیشہ طاقتور ھوندے۔
مڈیا دی کوریج ای طرح ھوے کہ پاکستان دے ھر گھر وڄ تے دنیا دے ھر کونے وڄ اے خبر پونجے کہ اساکوں
(وسیب کو سرائیکی صوبہ ڄاہیے۔ھر قیمت وڄ ھر قیمت تے ۔تے ھر حال وڄ۔کیوں کہ سرائیکی صوبہ پاکستان دی
ضمانت ھے۔
اخر وڄ میں اے اکھساں کہ اساڈی کامیابی دا راز طاقت وڄ ھے۔ ناں کہ اساں صوبے کیتے مسکین بن کر سوال کرے۔
ھر سرائیکی دا ھک نارا
صوبہ ھوے سرئیکستان اساڈا ۔

دعا گو
جام سعید

Saien G M Ghanjera,

Thanks for sharing info. about your plan for a seminar. One of the pioneer Seraiki friends namely Raushan Malik Saien, called me today asking to join the Seminar.

The issue is already under discussion through Net and other means to evolve consensus on the theme and the means. I paste below copy of my Email which carried some detail and aspects of the subject Constitutional package and Seraikis etc. and which was responded by quite a few friends with important suggestions and comments.

My humble request to you is please involve some more friends by contacting them and seeking their agreement individually: Ustad Ijaz Bloach, Aslam Rasoolpuri, Ashiq Buzdar, Dr Ashu Lal, Mazhar Nawaz, Zahoor Dharija, Zafar Lund, Mukhlis, Chishti and others, for instance, before you finalize your list of main speakers. You can also request www.wasaib.com. to throw your programme on the web. This is just a suggestion as a well-wisher. 'Ahden, sabh di raza rab di raza hondi he'.

Please read the draft of initial Email given below;


26-5-08
Friends,

As you read in the circular Email by Mushtaq, the ‘Draft Press Release’ which was discussed by Jhok-Mela friends on 19th of May, and was pronounced in the Demo on 20th, included a demand for immediate formation of Seraiki Administrative region which would lead to formation of Seraiki province. The same was carried on by some News papers (see attachment). Please come to know that ‘Administrative region’ and ‘Autonomous region’ are the notions used for the regions on their way to achieving status of a ‘province’ or a ‘state’.

This demand is a step forward in the movement for the Seraiki Province. Just like the case of ‘Provincial autonomy’. Provincial autonomy includes many things which will materialize through a set of actions, one being ‘abolishing the Concurrent List’, for instance. Formation of Seraiki province will also be materialized through set of actions, immediate formation of Administrative region can be one.

This we demand both as preemption to the loss Seraikis will face once additional powers are given to the Central Punjab dominated Punjab province and the North dominated NWFP in result of Provincial autonomy, and as a step to enter into the process of formation of the Siraiki province.

Equally strong voices are these days heard from NWFP reflecting concerns of the Seraikis of the ‘Southern part of the Province against increasing domination of the Northern (Pakhtun) part of the province. A standard demand from the Seraiki parts of both the provinces—South of the Punjab Province, and South of the NWFP—seem to agree on the single demand, immediate formation of the Seraiki Administrative regions in Punjab and NWFP.

These can be made part of the Constitutional Package under discussion, or a Fresh ‘Constitutional Package for Seiraiki area’ can be materialized by the current democratic set up which have great responsibility of setting the country on path of lasting peace and reconciliation.

This package for Siraikis will mainly benefit from the sub Article (3) of the Article 1 of ‘Part I Introductory’ of the Constitution which reads;

[2] [Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)] may by law admit into the Federation new States or areas on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.]

To incorporate an amendment in the sub article (2) of the same which reads;

The territories of Pakistan shall comprise :- - - - - - The territories would now include:

(1) To include Seraiki Administrative region of the Punjab province and (2) the Seraiki Administrative Region of NWFP (or Pakhtunkhwa), or as the constitutionlist would conclude.

Can this be proper time to remind active politicians, or is this untimely, you may know better.







tuhaada
Ahsan Wagha

اساں کنڈو رانے کنڈ تے سجھ کوں چا تے ٹردوں
پیریں ہیٹھ اے بھوئیں ترامے دی ،بلدی بھاتےٹردوں

ہتھیں پتھر،پیٹ تے پتھر،سر تے پتھر ڈھوندئیں
دل تے پتھر رکھ تے ،بکھے بال سُما تے ٹردوں

ہتھیں بدھ تے ٹوٹے ٻٹکے ،پیر پرانے پٹکے
تتے وا جھلوژے جھل تے ،تریہہ بھلا تے ٹردوں

روندے ٻال رہیندوں تھپ تے بکھ تے تریہہ دے ہوٹے
اپنے ٻال وندال تے ، اپنے دل روا تے ٹردوں

کھٹیا ،وٹیا ،پورہیا سارا ہکو سر دا ٻارا
رتیں ٻار لہا تے سُمدوں ،فجریں چاتے ٹردوں

سارا جیون ساڈے راہیں پتھر روڑا رہ گئے
لوکیں کیتے ساڑتے تن کوں رہ بنا تے ٹردوں

ساڈا عشق وی پھلیں وانگوں تتے تاتوں ڈردے
سک دے سیک بچا تے ٹردوں،سجھ لُکا تے ٹردو

Dear All
An interesting debate is going on among four or five
Seraiki veterans on
what should or should not We demand from Zardari (perhaps
government)?
Seraiki administrative unit/region or seraiki province? As
I failed to
participate in the meeting wherein the issue would have
been debated,
and because of my lack of knowledge, I can not figure out
difference
between administrative region and a province.

Generally, I choose not to indulge in matters I am not
clear about or I
do not know what is going on and why? Besides, as I lack
skill and
expertise of lobbying and because of that I do not have any
"group of
friends" (perhaps, I do not feel need for that), I am
always scared of
"pathron ki baarish" from right, left, front and
back.

But, despite that risk, I would like to ask
1) why is it
that a few
"friends" have developed "consensus"
and are out to confuse an issue
which is very clear in the minds of Seraiki people i.e.
they demand
Seraiki province.
2) How they represent Seraiki population while sitting in
Islamabad?
3) Are they representing any organization? any political
party or group?
4) Do they believe they have mandate to confuse the issue
and then make
the vague demands?
5) Will not such casually discussed demands in a very weak
voice and, by
handful of demonstrators, make us laughing stock?
6) Will the people who matter take it seriously?
7) Is this not logical that such demands should be made by
Seraiki
political parties /leaders/activists?
8) How long the "friends" can take this demand
(as far as their
capacity, resources, support, following is concerned) which
needs long,
constant people's struggle?

9) Is this not more appropriate that friends demand
cultural,
educational institutions (i.e. Institute of Seraiki
Studies, Institute
of language and culture, Institutes of Cultural and Folk
Heritage,
museum, a center for Seraiki, Sindhi and Baloch studies,
Institute for
environmental studies keeping in view environmental
degradation of
Cholistan, Thal and riverine areas etc.)?
10) Is this not more appropriate to try to find out ways to
seek support
of PP and the government to strengthen existing public
media outlets
(PTV, Radio)and Seraiki periodicals (Jhoke and other
magazines)in the
region ?

I am not sure whether any one is going to invite for
"negotiations" on
demands list to be submitted by "friends". I
believe that serious things
(even more serious in the context of Pakistani state) which
involve
legal, constitutional, procedural complexities, and of
course very
strong visible opposition, must be taken seriously and not
whimsically.

Lastly, the present constitutional package primarily deals
with power
equation among the so-called state's pillars.
"Pakhtunkhwa" is added, as
I understand, just to keep ANP close. For the time being, I
do not see
that constitution is going to be amended for creating
Seraiki province
or administrative region. I needs forceful popular demand
with clear
political expression and that from within the region.

With warmest regards,
Mazhar Arif
====================================================

Mushtaq Gaadi wrote:

Dear friends,
I would appreciate if you can send your suggestions
with regard to
Seraiki demands. For example, what should be the scope
of our demands?
Whether or not the brief should include the demands
such as the
complete ban on the allotment of state lands in
Seraiki wasaib? As
there is a lengthy list of Seraiki demands, whether we
want this Brief
strictly limited to the constitutional matters
concerning with the
process of the formation of Seraiki administrative and
economic region
leading to the formation a separate province or we
want to include
some other pressing issues in this Brief as well.
Last day, I got the chance to talk to Mahmood Nizami.
He suggested to
press for putting a resolution in the National
Assembly for the
formation of a separate Siraiki Province. He said the
resolution will
be strategically effective to take ahead the issue of
Seiraiki identity.
Please feel free to send your suggestions with regard
to the Brief on
Seiraiki Demands.
Mushtaq

Post edited by: admin, at: 2008/06/13 02:23