Gathering in protest... By M. Khan
12 November, 2012
A conference of writers and intellectuals was organised in a local hotel in Hyderabad on November 4, 2012, which was attended by more than 350 delegates from all across Sindh — a first of its kind gathering on such a large scale. Pakistan's permanent representative in the UN, Hussain Haroon, and PPP MNA Syed Zafar Ali Shah also attended. The aims of the conference were to support the struggle of the people of Sindh against the prevailing dual system of local bodies imposed by the PPP and MQM coalition government, which is a move bound to widen the urban-rural divide. Strangely, the PPP ministers and parliamentarians are adding fuel to the fire by issuing highly volatile statements in order to prove they are loyal to President Zardari. The distinguished writers, intellectuals and scholars all raised their voices against the dictatorial methods used by the PPP/MQM coalition government in presenting and passing the Sindh People's Local Government Ordinance (SPLGO) 2012 in the assembly within just five minutes. This conference also awarded shields to three people who had returned presidential awards earlier as a protest against imposing the SPLGO. I hope the government considers the protest lodged at the conference as the collective voice of intellectuals, writers, scholars, poets and journalists. MOHAMMAD KHAN SIAL
Karachi
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