On 21 April, the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement (JSFM) solemnly commemorated the National Martyrs at various press clubs across Pak occupied Sindh, including Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Kotri, Thariri Mohobat, and Tando Mohammad Khan. Leaders and members of JSFM gathered to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by martyrs in the struggle for the establishment of a Free Sindhudesh homeland and liberation from colonial Pakistan.

Chairman Sohail Abro, Vice Chairman Zubair Sindhi, Secretary General Amar Azadi, along with other leaders such as Farhan Sindhi, Hafeez Deshi, Murk Sindhu, and Hosho Sindhi, lighted candles before the pictures of the martyrs, honouring their courage and dedication to the cause of freedom. They emphasized the enduring presence of these martyrs in the annals of history as symbols of national liberation.

In a tradition observed annually in April, JSFM members in more than twenty cities in Sindh paid homage to martyrs who embraced martyrdom for the homeland. Among those remembered were Shaheed Martyr Maharaja Dahir, Shaheed Martyr Bashir Khan Qureshi, Shaheed Martyr Shafi Muhammad Karnani, Shaheed Martyr Sirai Qurban Khuwahar, Shaheed Martyr Rooplo Cholyani, Shaheed Martyr Moor Allah Tunio, Shaheed Martyr Amir Khuwahar, and Shaheed Martyr Sajjad Markhand.

During the commemorative events, JSFM members lit candles before the portraits of the martyrs, sang the national anthem, and fervently chanted national slogans, reaffirming their commitment to the ideals of freedom and justice for the people of Sindh.

Britain’s parliament has approved Rawanda bill, a law allowing the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda while their applications are being processed. The legislation, spearheaded by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, aims to tackle illegal immigration and disrupt the operations of human smugglers, but it has ignited fierce debate and drawn criticism from various quarters.

Prime Minister Sunak expressed determination to proceed with deportation flights to Rwanda following the passage of the migration legislation, hailing it as a pivotal moment in global migration policy. However, the United Nations has urged Britain to reconsider its plans, cautioning that the deportation scheme could undermine the rule of law and set a dangerous precedent worldwide.

“The passing of this landmark legislation is not just a step forward but a fundamental change in the global equation on migration,” Rishi Sunak said in a statement.

Initial setbacks

The proposal to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda has faced legal challenges and public outcry since it was initially introduced by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2022. Despite the Supreme Court declaring the policy unlawful last November, Sunak is pushing forward with the new legislation in hopes of circumventing legal obstacles and fulfilling his pledge to curb illegal immigration via small boats crossing the English Channel.

Under the Rwanda plan, individuals who arrived in Britain illegally after January 1, 2022, would be subject to deportation to Rwanda. However, the scheme faced setbacks, including a blocked deportation flight in June 2022 and subsequent legal challenges citing concerns about the safety and human rights of migrants.

New treaty

To address these concerns, Prime Minister Sunak negotiated a new treaty with Rwanda, stipulating that deported individuals would only be returned to Britain, rather than risk mistreatment in other countries. Once the bill becomes law, the government plans to detain asylum seekers, a move likely to spark further legal battles from advocacy groups and unions questioning Rwanda’s suitability as a safe destination.

The deportation plan comes amid ongoing migration challenges, with thousands of migrants undertaking perilous journeys to reach Britain, fleeing conflict and poverty in regions across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Sunak has made tackling illegal immigration a priority, aiming to clear a backlog of asylum claims and stem the flow of migrants arriving via the English Channel.

While the new legislation represents a significant development in Britain’s immigration policy, it remains a subject of intense scrutiny and debate, with critics raising concerns about the rights and welfare of asylum seekers and the implications of outsourcing immigration control to foreign nations. As the deportation scheme moves forward, its impact on the broader landscape of migration policy and human rights will continue to be closely monitored.

In a tragic incident near the Afghan border in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Tirah Maidan, four innocent Pashtuns, including two children, lost their lives in a mortar shelling by Pak Army.

The area is under the heavy watch of Pakistan Amry as it shares borders with Afghanistan. Pashtun community members maintain that mortar shelling in the area was responsible for the fatalities. However, Pakistan to suppress the reality have been propogating that the killings were the result of landmine explosion, when the deceased went their searching mushrooms.

Additiinally, Pakistan has also downplayed the number of fatalities claiming them two. On the contrary, Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) has released the picture of 4 deceased, including children.

Notably, Pakistan’s relation with Afghan Taliban have soured in recent times, which was evident by the abrupt deportation of Afghan migrants, sealing border and imposing one document regime. Amidst the escalating tensions, the primary concern for Pak Army is the same ethnicity of Afghan and Pashtuns who live on the either side of the border. Due to this, Pak Army has aggravated the scrutiny at the border area with fierce actions against Pashtuns, in a bid to deter them.

Pakistan has employed this tactic without address its ramifications for the larger Pashtun population. Consequently, innocent people are dying. Not less than a week ago, three children lost their lives after a landmine detonated in South Waziristan.

Pakistan has closed the Angoor Adda crossing on Afghanistan border in South Waziristan as part of its ‘one document regime’, eliciting widespread criticism from Pashtuns living in the region and those who frequently traverse the border for trade or familial connections.

The closure has drawn condemnation from various quarters, including the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), which lambasted the Pakistan Army’s decision. PTM took to social media, stating, “Angoor Adda crossing in South Waziristan with Afghanistan remained closed, creating tragic problems for the locals. All these are colonial tactics to displace, alienate, implement ‘one document regime’ & block the mobility of Pashtuns on their own land.”

Previously, individuals crossing the border were issued Tazkira, a paper pass. This facilitated trade and familial ties between people on both sides of the border. However, the abrupt termination of the Tazkira provision and the imposition of the ‘one document regime’ requiring a passport for cross-border travel has sparked distress among Afghan Pashtuns residing in the border area.

The move came on October 21st last year, in the wake of strained relations with the Afghan Taliban and attacks by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Pakistan responded by deporting Afghan migrants and imposing stringent travel requirements. The sudden policy shift had further exacerbated tensions and disrupted the livelihoods of individuals dependent on cross-border activities across Afghanistan border.

The resentment of people culminated into months long protest at Chaman border in Pak occupied Balochistan, which was eventually dealt with violence by Pakistan Army.

The closure of the Angoor Adda is the latest development that highlights the ordeal of Pashtuns and Afghans living in Pakistan.