Sindh Protest Against IDP Influx Justified ?
By Muskan Hina • May 25th, 2009 • Category: Politics, Worth A Second Look • 45 CommentsAlmost all the notable parties except PPP and JI are protesting vehemently against the entry of the Internally Displaced People (IDP) in the Sindh province. Strike calls are being given, with some already underway. The Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) gave the strike call somedays ago and various nationalist parties and coalition partner of the government, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), supported the call.
Millions of the people from FATA and Malakand Agency are pouring into the Sindh and Punjab province due to the mismanagement of the federal government and of the provincial government of NWFP. Only .2 Million people out of some 25 million are present in various camps setup throughout NWFP. Rest of the almost 23 million are now scouring the country in search of some refuge. Naturally they are drawing towards comparatively settled areas, and for them what better than Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi?
But all the Pakistani cities are already sagging under the burden of Afghan immigrants and the economies of these cities are as pathetic as anything. Unemployment, no-business, street crimes and other social problems are rampant in these cities and already out of control. With the addition of the migrants of the Malakand and Swat, there is a very genuine fear that these cities will give in under the added weight.
It’s not that the people of Karachi and Lahore and Rawalpindi are not concerned about the IDPs. It’s also not that they dont want to help out these people. It’s also not that these people don’t empathize with what sufferings these people have been enduring and how big they have sacrificed for the country and for the nation. But the thing is that once these IDPs settle into the other cities, it is unlikely that they will return any time soon. It will result in the cosmo-collapse of these cities. It is sure that these IDPs will seek jobs and business chances and they will fail, and then this will only result in the crime hike and gigantic unmanageable social problems.
Government in Islamabad, and the governments of Punjab and Sindh should keep strict checks on the entry points in the province and they should also urge the NWFP government to settle these immigrants within their provincial boundaries. Also the other provines must enhance the relief activities on war footings to help out NWFP government in the settlement of the IDPs. This will save everyone lots of grief and embarrassment.
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The Internally Displaced People are Citizens of Pakistan. They don’t need a visa to go or settle into any part of Pakistan. MQM’s fears are totally unjustified, because on one hand MQM supports large number of illegal Bengali immigrants living in Karachi and on the other hand, they want to ban entry of Swat people who are citizens of Pakistan. Even most of MQM supporters were previously Indians coming from land of Ganga Jumna. This is stupidity.Which law of Pakistan prevents entry of people from one province to another province? At such time, MQM, JSQM are busy poisoning the atmosphere against Pukhtoons and Punjabis. MQM has again shown its hatred for Pukhtoon and Punjabi people.
This is one side of story, and on other hand, Punjab, and its govenment under Shahbaz Sharif, Salman Taseer have this time contributed so much for Pukhtoon brothers in need that even ANP Chief Asfandyar Wali has acknowledged this service and thanked government and people of Punjab. So many Swat displaced people have migrated to Punjab and Baluchistan, so why can’t they migrate to Sindh?
Instead of blaming MQM and Sind you should read this article published in ‘The News’ which is self explanatory. The last para of this news article tells about the strategy of Punjab Govt of Nawaz Sharif.
In fact, it is people like you who not only never miss any opportunity to malign MQM but also try to seed hatred in other communities againts Mohajirs.
For the sake of information, before the independence, the whole area was part of India including that which is now Pakistan. The difference is that the Muslims living in those areas, which is part of India now, had to sacrifice a lot and migrate to Pakistan only to be called Mohajirs. Whereas, those living in the areas now belonging to Pakistan became the sons of the soil.
MQM and other parties of Sind fear that under cover of IDPs terrorists from these areas try to enter Sind and Karachi and play their dirty game. MQM is insisting on their registration and monitoring so that they could be sent back once the situation in Malakand improves. In the past, Karachi has suffered a lot due to uncontrolled movement of Afghanis.
Punjab not to allow IDP camps
Thursday, May 21, 2009
ISLAMABAD: The Punjab government has decided in principle not to allow camps for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the province, The News has learnt.
“The IDPs can cause trouble for the province just like the Afghan refugees. So, we have decided not to permit their entry or setting up of camps for them in the Punjab,” sources in the provincial government said.
However, the Punjab government has formed an inter-provincial coordination committee (IPCC), after consultation with the ANP-led Frontier government, to provide aid to the IDPs at their camps in the NWFP.
The IPCC comprises two members each from the Punjab and the NWFP. “The NWFP members will inform the Punjab government of the requirements of the IDPs.” The director general relief and the district coordination officer (DCO), Attock, would coordinate with the NWFP members of the IPCC as representatives of the Punjab.
“If it becomes mandatory for us to accommodate the IDPs any way, a computerised registration system would be set up to ensure strict check on their activities till their return,” the Punjab official sources said.
As the Punjab describes such restrictions as part of its security policy, the Frontier government believes that such a step would create provincial disharmony as no Pakistani citizen could be barred from staying at any corner of the country.
Director Public Relations (DPR), Punjab, Mohiuddin Wani, while speaking on behalf of the
provincial government, said any final decision about the issue would be taken once the IDPs started migrating to the province.
Responding to a query, the DPR said the Punjab government would welcome the displaced persons whenever it deemed necessary. ìPresently, the NWFP government is absorbing all the IDPs.î
Also, Director General Relief, Punjab, Rizwanullah Baig, said the people of the province were donating generously for the IDPs. ìWe will provide all kinds of material assistance to the displaced persons through a coordination committee.î
However, ANP Vice President Haji Muhammad Adeel said: ìYes, we have heard that the Punjab is not willing to take the IDPs and this step will send a wrong message to other provinces.î Adeel said the Punjab should also declare war on terror as the Frontier province had done. “Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has announced assistance for the IDPs, which is only peanuts in view of the fact that Punjab is the elder brother.”
PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq, in his talk with this correspondent on Monday, had given “rising temperature” as the major reason for not allowing the establishment of the IDPs’ camps in the Punjab.
A PML-N consultative round held in Islamabad last Monday with Nawaz Sharif in the chair had first discussed to adopt a policy of extending help to the displaced persons while retaining them within the NWFP.
i think its only MQM who is protesting against the influx of idpS in sindh,PPP must try to persuade the MQM or otherwise expel MQM from government both in Province and in Federal because it also works on gun point like taliban and extremists IN SWAT.
It is shameful that we are discussing whether Pakistani citizens have the freedom of movement within their own country. ABSOLUTELY SHAMEFUL. I am glad that majority of Pakistanis stand united with their compatriots in their hour of need.
Furthermore it is beyond shameful that we are already referring to these refugees as the criminals of the future. Should we then adopt the preventive detention doctrine that is being contemplated by the US which says that one can detain a person indefinitely on the mere suspicion that they may do something bad in the future.
Did all the refugees from India at the time of partition become criminals. Please have some sanity and stop this utter nonsense.
Management of the refugees should be done with compassion. The mere custom of referring to them as IDPs depersonalizes their plight which is of utter distress. Imagine losing your home and then imagine hearing the same people you are looking to for help refer to you as future criminals.
It is not the influx of IDPs but the terrorist element which is bothering MQM, and very rightly too.
Karachi cannot afford to become hideout of these anti-state elements.
IDPs must be registered, monitored and kept in camps in the outskirts of Karachi and to be returned to their homes as soon as the situation permits.
Hina
Your all points relating to IDPs, are actually growing towards more complicated side and more the time will pass more complications regarding their settlement will appear on national level.In one way sindhi people are right in apprehensions as these people are pouring here without scurtiny and check.
If here social work is being done on huge scale on the other side, embezzlement on this human crisis is also started specially in govt level.Those who started this war know very well that our civil structure cant bear this huge burden but all mess is started without proper planning and result of flooding of human flow is now a big security threat for all settled areas.If one can see the pain and misiries of IDP then it will not difficult to judge that how mismanagement and inappropriate security measures of present and past govts have destroyed the culture of one of beautiful valley of Pakistan,It is also distasteful to see that policy makers behind this crisis are enjoying BMW, mercidies rides under police convoys.Their residences have been sealed so that no ordinary persona can approach them.Some have been flew to safe destination along with their families and huge bank accounts earned in this war games and let the people of Pakistan to suffer more and more.
PUKHTOONS ARE CITIZENS OF PAKISTAN AND HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.
THESE MQM Mohajirs Came from Ganga-Jumna India and are now trying to occupy our country under this THUG Altaf Hussain. Yes PPP Must expel these blackmailer MQM people from the government.
Xo u are right.
Shahzad
seeing the present volatile conditions of Karachi/hyderabad and poor civic conditions of interior Sindh these people should be avoided to go there.Narrow mindedness of mqm and poor management of PPP govt is quite obvious and after 12 may incident all ethnic groups have almost armed themselves for their protection so in this charred environment , so it is job of govt to stop their movement toward south for their own safety.
The areas where there camp were installed is also not suitable for their female folks and it is very difficult in to keep them in hot weather for longer in such open areas.They should be settled in our mountain range between Punjab and NWFP near water streams.We should pray of ending this fierce fighting before start of monsoon that will start in the end of june as rain will bring more disastrous impact on such huge migration.
Up till now what is being seen gives sketch as expression that these IDPs can shift to new place if at all this place as camps are being invaded too, since; it seems there is no second thought in these individuals that they have disgraced their land and this reflection has taken its impression over their existence justifying that these sons of land never proved their legitimacy as son.
In my opinion out of 2.5 million people at least 500 thousand masses could have reverted to help military as civilian laskar therefore to fight for the cause along with military but rather they are impressing media by demanding ration and livings.
This is pathetic.
Our army is sacrificing for the land and these people and none among; inspite of millions; are willing to go back therefore to be supportive, rather they are further taking flight to reach places that may prove more effective in terms of free meal and forever.
These flung needs to prove their rational way of living with courage and must revert to their places of weed and breed showing valor as their habit.
In my opinion these were nomads with no land as their own and no etiquettes as belief that land is like mother who groom & nurture you as son.
How can one leave and left her mother within and to the hand of ravishers.
This scattered population of FATA has diverse ethnic and religious belongings and the mode of earning from decades were cropping poppy and relying on purchases from theft therefore to smuggle them in nearby or uncontrolled area or immediate neighbor; the Afghanistan.
From decades these people were known as paid killers, and offense holders, may you shape it in terms of human trafficking to drug trafficking or car lifters?
Any thing that took as wrong any where in country always routed to find its escape as flight in this land as place for shelter.
Even people who inflict disaster in urban areas were granted peace in FATA in the name of relative or guest.
I would have no reason but to call them; that FATA is a land whose people opted as attachment with Pakistan but never accepted Pakistani dominance as state and law.
This land since decades have a belief as truth that it’s the no men’s land and the people as masses here, were dependent on earning through ways that are never within the scope as vocabulary of rational business.
nazia
you are right that climatic conditions are severe in Sindh for these people of Swat, but here this is not the question. Its not up to us or the government to decide where to settle these people, because they are not foreign refugees like Afghans. They are citizens of Pakistan. They have as much right to visit and settle in any part of the country as any other citizen. Constitution of Pakistan guarantees this right. The role of the government is to facilitate those displaced people who can’t help themselves, which of course is a majority, by setting up camps, providing food etc. However if few of these displaced countryme of ours decide to move somewhere and settle in some other part of the country on their own, then its their fundamental right and no one should stop them. Many of our displaced brothers and sisters have gone and settled in urban parts of Baluchistan, Punjab and even Islamabad. Any citizen of Pakistan is allowed to change domicile. MQM is only playing dirty ethnic politics here. PUKHTOONS OF SWAT ARE PAKISTANI CITIZENS WHO DON’T NEED A VISA TO ENTER SINDH.
Remember that these people are honourable countrymen, who lived stable lives just as we live. If today, they are in need it is due to fate, so our MQM politicians must not hurt feelings these people who are Pakistanis just like us. If Sindh govt bans entry of Pukhtoons in Sindh, Karachi, it will have a very devastating effect on provincial harmony in our country. What if in future, Pukhtoonkhwa bans entry of all Mohajirs in Pukhtoonkhwa? What if tomorrow, Punjab bans the transport of wheat and food items to Sindh?
Going by MQM’s logic, the Mohajirs were not even natives of the regions of Pakistan, prior to partition in 1947. They came from Bihar, Bengal and far off regions near Ganga-Jumna. But we natives welcomed them wth open arms then and helped them to settled down.
All provinces of Pakistan are make up what Pakistan is a a nation. All provinces of Pakistan are reliant on each other in one way or another. It is dirty garbage politics of this gangster Altaf Hussain who wants to dicide people on the basis of race and ethnicity. Our federal government under PM Gillani must not listen to these blackmailers and ensure provision of full constitutional rights of the people of Pakistan.
If Sindh government under blackmailing of Mafia Chief Altaf Hussain and his MQM, bans entry of our Pukhtoon brothers in Sindh or Karachi, then Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad should and we hopw he will take suo moto action to guarantee constitutional rights of these displaced Pakistanis of Swat.
How come these individuals coming on media in the name of IDPs can justify their behavior as valor but; what is termed as runaway?
No entry in sindh similarly like Punjab .
they must revert back and fight for the cause.