KARACHI - Rising above their differences, the local leadership of 11 political parties of northern parts of Sindh has decided to join hands for peace and against tribal conflicts in the province.
They demanded a ban on holding of Jirgas, saying that innocent people were killed in tribal conflicts in various parts of the province. The local leadership belongs to Shikarpur, Ghotki and other districts of the northern parts of the province.
They gathered on one platform in Strategic Planning Meeting of District Steering Committee of political parties organised by the Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO).
The SPO works on the capacity building and training of communities to ensure their participation in decision making on education, health and politics.
The parties include ruling Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Muslim league-N, JUI-F, Jeay Sindh Mahaz,  Awami Tahreek, Sindh Taraqi Passand Party, Sindh United Party, Sindh National Front, Awami Party Pakistan,  Jeay Sindh Qaumi  Mahaz and Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf. After deliberations, they expressed their commitment to initiate an advocacy drive against tribal conflicts in the province.
They opined that previously they were struggling separately for rights of common people from separate forums, but this was first time they have joined hands against tribal terrorism and safe recovery of missing persons.
Local leadership of all the political parties signed an memorandum with the SPO to initiate advocacy to address district level problems and voice against deteriorating law and order arising of tribal disputes.
They also mentioned that alliances of political parties are always made at national and provincial level, but there was no such coalition at district level. Leaders of District Steering Committees of political parties said there are a lot of problems and issues throughout the region of upper Sindh, but the situation of law and order has been worsened in District Shikarpur and Ghotki.
They alleged that feudal lords and influential persons by encouraging and patronizing the tribal disputes. They also uttered that because of lack of interest towards conflict resolution by authorities, the crime rate was increasing.
They, however, said that it had been observed that tribal conflicts in society was resulting in the disharmony and intolerance in the Sindh province.
Without addressing local level issues nobody can attain the trust of populace, local leadership said and added that in Shikarpur, Ghotki and other districts crime especially kidnappings of children for ransom was rising. They lamented that the elected representatives are mum on terrible conflicts and worsening law and order. The police have become part of culprits and criminals, they alleged.
Regional head of SPO, Ghulam Mustafa Baloch in his concluding remarks said feudal lords are responsible for the deteriorating situation of law and order in upper Sindh. Police and other agencies and government officers oblige and honor the feudal MNAs and MPAs. He said in most of the cases the tribal conflicts are self created by feudal.