The World Sindhi Institute

October 19, 2007

Press Release

Washington D.C. :WSI condemns the brazen mass murder of innocent people in the capital city of Sindh .

Former prime minister of Pakistan and leader of the Pakistan People's Party, Ms. Benazir Bhutto narrowly escaped what could very well be construed as a well-planned assassination attempt. Ms. Bhutto had just returned to Pakistan from an 8 years self-exile after cobbling together a US-backed power-sharing pact with Pakistani military ruler General Musharraf.

The World Sindhi Institute, a Washington , DC , based human rights advocacy group, has condemned these blasts and the tragic loss of life.  Zahid Makhdoom, President of WSI said that "the blasts send a stark reminder to all of us struggling for a peaceful, secular, decentralized and  democratic Pakistan that the realization of democratic process in Pakistan is further from what it seems and that entities engaged in subverting democracy are willing to prove at any cost, in terms of both human and institutional, their point that Pakistan cannot sustain democracy and that it could only be ruled by military and its direct or indirect proxies such as the MQM , the pro-military Islamic fundamentalist parties, the Inter Services Intelligence, Military Intelligence  etc."

He went on saying that "as a personal message to Ms. Bhutto the blasts would serve as a constant reminder that her personal security and safety could only be guaranteed by the very military that must be sent back to the barracks in order to ensure the blossoming of democracy in Pakistan ".

Speaking on the occasion, Munawar Laghari, Executive Director of WSI, expressed deep sorrow at the loss of innocent lives and said that, "those responsible have demonstrated utter contempt for human life". Emphasizing the need for a non-violent and steadfast pursuit of democracy, Laghari said, "The gravity of circumstances and situation in Pakistan is such that all democratic entities must engage in a comprehensive effort to seeking variety of perspectives for a secular-democratic Pakistan ".  He said that the WSI would continue to "engage in helping generate debate and discourse within the Diaspora Pakistan communities, governmental entities such as the United Nations , the United States , South Asia , and civil society organizations". 

Speaking of the forthcoming celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the WSI on 9 November 2007 in Washington, DC , Laghari said, "with the recent and cruel loss of innocent lives, our 10th Anniversary Conference can no longer be deemed a celebration, but we will instead mark the occasion with a highly focused and interactive discourse on the current situation in Sindh and overall in Pakistan ".

_______________________________________________________________

The World Sindhi Institute (WSI) is committed to achieving human rights for the people of Sindh in southeastern Pakistan through a nonviolent advocacy, activism, and academic campaign. WSI brings together Sindhis (people of Sindh) of all religious and geographical backgrounds and their supporters in a proactive, progressive movement whose purpose is to inform others of the human rights and environmental atrocities occurring in Sindh . WSI initiates and welcomes collaborative projects with other governmental and non-governmental organizations and individuals seeking positive, nonviolent change in South Asia and elsewhere.