Minutes of Meeting Concerning Formation of Seraiki Social Forum (SSF)
August 18, 2007 at SAP-PK Lahore

Moderator: Mazhar Arif
on Stage: Mohammad Tahseen Fayyaz Baqir, Zahoor Dhareja, Amjid Nazir, Shaista Bukhari, Ume Kalsoom and G.M. Ghanjera.

60 renowned seraiki activists from all the wasaib participated in the meeting.

Mohammad Tahseen spoke on the philosophy of World Social Forum. He said that World Social Forum had formed in reaction of World Economic Forum. It was anti-globalisation and anti-imperialism forum. It provides space to all peoples/movements to express their views. It was first started in Latin American countries. It was first time experienced as a country social forum in Pakistan. There were formed further chapters of Pakistan Social Forum in four provinces of Pakistan.

Mazhar Arif said that World Social Forum Karachi 2006 was an interesting experience. It became the cause of peoples gathering from various identities and professions. They demanded that we could not live in this cruel world which was full of injustices. This is why that the slogan of World Social Forum is “Another world is possible”. He continued that every body should strive to maintain his/her identity. The charter of SSF will be same as of WSF. No political party will participate as a political party in SSF. There should be like mindedness in us. We should introduce new native forces. We agree to the formation of SSF and now, we should talk about its formation. We should form its convening committee so that it may function.

Fayyaz Baqir explained that our state is against diversity and it wants to create the unity and monotony in the country. There is diversity in seraikis either. We should build up such kinds of forums and platforms to sit together. People themselves initiate these types of forums locally.

Hassan Raza expressed that there must be an anti-capitalism movement in the country and we are against unjust globalisation and imperialism. SAP-PK often forms such kinds of forums and we congratulate SAP-PK on initiating SSF. We should also tell people about the process of Pakistan Social Forum. He further explained that if SSF does not become the cause of any political movement, it is useless. SSF should be there for seraikis.

G.M. Ghanjera stated that every one knows about SSF. There are four chapters of Pakistan Social Forum (PSF) i.e. Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan social forum. The structure of the PSF was made while keeping in view the state structure. Anyhow, there was no space for seraikis on the platform of PSF. After long discussions with the management of PSF in several meetings, we demanded for the formation of SSF for seraikis to talk about their issues so that we might put a common demand and work for seraiki national rights and larger cause. There should be no colonialization and people should have the control and right on their natural resources. We should speak on the theme of the SSF.

Safdar Baloch explained that we should form such kinds of forums in Wasaib.

Aslam Javed stated that we should not be shown particular faces. We should call a big representative meeting.

Wali Anjum spoke that we should preserve our identity in the international forum and we should adopt good aspects of World Social Forum.

Zahor Dhareja explained that we should focus our target and SSF may support us while achieving our target. This forum may connect us with international community and we should appreciate this initiative. He said that SSF should be held in Multan. He further explained that seraiki Wasaib’s boundries should be those which were of old Multan and Bahawalpure provinces. He said that our identity must be admitted and govt. should focus on development works in seraiki Wasaib and they should be abolished the occupation of Ranjeet Singh.

Mahar Safdar Ali expressed that there should be set up SSF and first we should be agreed to the basic points. He further explained that there must be movements of laborers, workers, farmers and all oppressed nations, and people of seraiki Wasaib also want that. We can gather people for a larger cause through SSF. When SSF will be a movement, it will be a part of WSF.

Ibrahim baig stated that oppressed people should think of themselves and Baig sahab agreed to this opinion of the forum.

Amjad Nazir explained that the slogan of WSF is this that composition of new world is possible. The question is this whether we need social forum or not and I think we need. Every nation should work for its vision and agenda. Our every platform becomes the victim of dispersion. We should come out of old notions and thinking.

Faiz Rehman said there must be some progress on SSF and the oppressed should form it and every body should work as an ambassador of his/her area.

Waseem Wahga explained that if SSF is a space, it must be filled or if it is platform, it must be utilized. All friends should come here to talk about. A few movements are working under WSF. We should settle the question of seraiki identity and seraikis should be active in the Wasaib and should talk about the real problems of seraiki Wasaib.He and Irfan hot were no in favor of making decisions in this meeting.

Afzal Chohan said that we should not indulge in petty issues; rather we should talk about collective thinking.

Syed Tafseer Shamsi said that there must be SSF and that a social worker is always selfless, he/she thinks about others.

Mehboob Tabish said that there must be SSF and it should be functional. People themselves will enquire about it.
Mehar Tufail and Malik Ahmed khan also endorsed the meeting.
Decisions:
A convening committee was formed which consisted of nine members. They elected G.M. Ghanjera and Shaista Bukhari as Co-conveners. Other members of convening committee are:
Safdar Baluch, Hassan Raza Shah, Irshad Ameen, mehoob Tabish, Ume Kalsoom, Mazhar Arif and Amjad Nazir.

It was decided that the persons of relevant districts would conduct meetings in which at least one member of convening committee would also participate. The deadline for the meetings on district level is 31st October 2007.

Some districts and the responsible persons are:

Rahimyar Khan: Irshad Ameen, Zahoor Dhareja and Abdul Mujeeb
Multan: Amjad Nazir
Bahawalnagar: Zahoor Dhareja and Irshad Ameen
Dera Ismail Khan: Irfan Hoat
Dera Ghazi Khan: Mehboob Tabish
Muzaffar Garh: Ume Kalsoom
Layyah: Ume Kalsoom and Maher Tufail
Miawali: Nawaz Salar and G.M. Ghanjera
Rajanpur: Sarfraz Dhaha
Bhakkar: Safdar Baloch and Farhan Baloch

The tentative date of the broad based SSF is first week of March, 2008 at Multan

Dear Mitha Khan (I don't think I have met a person with such a name in SSF), Ganjeera and friends
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I do not comment on the total minutes; however, what I stated in the meeting is not put in the minutes; so I write my comments or suggestions here:

That SSF shall set a brief criteria for its membership.
That SSF shall clearly define its area of activity in terms of districts, which will in fact represent the Seraiki area as defined by the Seraiki nationalists.
That SSF shall take positions on some important issues which the Seraiki peoples face i.e. No further cut on Indus, No encroachment of Seraiki land, forests and other resources, etc.

I request friends that my suggestions shall be reflected in the minutes for the record.

Wasim Wagha

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Dear All
The world has become hyper place and the separation lines are increasingly becoming thin and invisible. For instance, the NGO you referred in your email as notorious for protecting the US imperialist interest is not only a part of the World Social Forum but its one of major funders as well. You have probably looked at the email address of Ajju and identified his relationship with Action Aid. However, you ignored the original message from Seraiki Social Forum and the list to which it was copied. I would request you to see it again to find that the message was also copied to the USAID and Asian Development Bank. Can somebody explain me what is the use of copying this Seraiki specific correspondence to the USAID and other such imperialist organizations?
The meeting of Seraiki Social Forum is being held not only in Lahore but also in the office of South Asia Partnership which is used to get large amount of funds from the US government and European Commission. Probably, those funds will also be used to fund the activities of Seraiki Social Forum. Moreover, South Asia Partnership is governed by a group of people which are hardcore Punjabi nationalists. Can you explain these ambivalent aspects?
You may think I am trying to prove some kind of conspiracy theory. This is not correct. I am just trying to say the obvious truth that NGO phenomena are by and large a part of the New World Order. It is the new slavery of third world societies. I have worked in NGO sector for last twelve years and know a lot of inside things.
The oppressed national groups like Seraikis who are waging the struggle for the recognition of their identity must be alert about the maintenance of their already thin boundaries. I am sure that the involvement of NGO funding in Seraiki movement, no matter from which group or organization, will be detrimental to the Seraiki nationalist cause and will eventually lead to new kinds of co-option and vulnerability. The voluntary activism in Seraiki movement is the only option if we want to do some good.

I agree with one of your assertions that we being Seraikis should not be abusive to each other. This correspondence will not continue if we don't show respect to different opinions.
With best regards,

Mushtaq Gaadi

THANKS 4 SHARING...