Pakistani provinces are legally countries in its foundation document

By Zulfiqar Shah

 

The "Pakistan" Resolution of 1940 terms the Provinces in Pakistan as "independent States". Word State with capital letter 'S' means Country in English. Therefore, if 1940 Resolution is adopted in Pakistan system, Pakistan will become a European Union like Indus countries Union. A sentence of the 1940 Resolution reads:

"Muslims are numerically in a majority as in the North Western and Eastern Zones of India should be grouped to constitute "independent States" in which the constituent units should be autonomous and sovereign."

 

Sain G. M. Syyed in his Book Sindhudesh Cho ain Cha Lai (the book in English is titled Sindhudesh ) -- a Sindh manifesto for secessionists -- writes the same as written in 1940 Resolution:

 

• Sindh historically is an independent and sovereign country [State]
• Sindhi are a nation
• Freedom is possible

 

Another stalwart leader and great scholar of our recent past Rassol Bux Palejo, leader of Sindh based Awami Tahreek and also co-founder of Awami National Party in his speech of 26. 11. 1993 termed Sindh a country and compared it with other countries in the world.

 

Similarly, popular most Sindhi leader in the world Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, a assassinated Prime Minister of Pakistan, wrote in a last letter from death cell to his daughter Benazir Bhutto that "if I am not Rana of Pakistan, I am Rana of Larakan". (If I am not ruler of Pakistan, in that case I am a ruler of Sindh). Besides, he wrote Sindh is rapped in Pakistan. He also wrote Sindh will bid farewell to Pakistan before Balochistan. (Please refer to Stanley Worlpert's book Zulfi Bhutto of Pakistan). 

 

Jinnah –Qauid-e-Azam Shaheed -- the killed founder of Pakistan, after adopting 1940 Resolution of All India Muslim League in Lahore (called as Pakistan Resolution of 1940) gave speech and said that the Constitutions of the Provinces should be further strengthened. 

 

In fact, Pakistan was to become a EU kind Union of Indus Countries. Indusia, Shindhia or Union of Indus States would be the appropriate name of Pakistan if 1940 Resolution is translated today in Pakistan after seven decades of partition of Subcontinent.   

 

Pakistan security regime and fifteen Punjabi speaking districts of Pakistani Punjab do not want this. Hence, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa and Siraiki want to get Freedom – the secession.

 

I as a Sindhi and Baloch want to say something important:

 

The speech by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Balochistan no doubt internationalized the Balochistan phenomenon. I am repeating the words of sain G. M. Syyed to Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1980s, if Indian leadership really wants to do something for Balochistan and Sindh, they should tender their diplomatic engagement for the Observer State status of Sindh and Balochistan. This is the only litmus test for India by Sindh and Balochistan that their indigenous and self-sufficient movement will not be quoted to respond Pakistan regarding Kashmir in the UN and outside world forums. While saying this, it should be considered the collective opinion of Sindhi and Baloch leadership that want freedom of their historical countries which in fact according to "Pakistan" Resolution 1940 are also termed independent, sovereign and autonomous countries with a united mechanism that is called Pakistan.   

 

Shah is a Sindh-Balochistan activist, writer and analyst. He has led peasants and citizens movements in Sindh and Balochistan 2004-2012. He was an associate of University of Karachi, Pakistan; Tribhuwan University, Nepal; IAES (D) University, India, Bidduku Collage of Journalism, India, CSC, Pakistan, IISS, UK. He also has been engaged with Brigham University, UK. He is a member of International Society for Philosophers, Sheffield University, UK and British Society for South Asian Studies, UK. He is member of an accredited group of experts to comment on International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights at the UN Geneva. Twitter: @shahzulf