Ahead of the ‘Howdy, Modi’ event on Sunday, members of a US-based Sindhi organisation urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to look into their cause of gaining freedom from Pakistan. Highlighting the issues faced by the Sindhi community due to the Pakistan Army, Activist Zafar on Saturday requested PM Modi to help the province attain independence from Pakistan in a manner similar to Bangladesh in 1971.

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'We want the same freedom as Bangladesh': Sindhi community

"We want the Prime Minister to help Sindh attain independence from Pakistan like how Bangladesh was Liberated in 1971," he said. The activist also added that they will be holding placards carrying the message that will read 'Freedom from Pakistan' when PM Modi arrives in Houston, hoping that PM Narendra Modi and Donald Trump will support the cause. Activist Zafar blamed Pakistan accused Pakistan of being a terror-supporting regime. Pakistan has been repeatedly criticised for and accused of enforced disappearances and killings. The country has also been slammed by international bodies and local human rights organisations.

According to the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, established by the Pakistani government, about 5,000 cases of enforced disappearances have been registered since 2014. Most of them are still unresolved. Around 20,000 have reportedly been abducted from Balochistan only. Independent local and international human rights organisations put the numbers much higher.

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Around 1,000 Sindhi girls abducted every year

According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, every month, between 40 to 60 Sindhi girls are abducted and the families who report about it are often ignored by police, which is why, a First Information Report (FIR) fails to reach the authorities. From January 2004 to May 2018, there were 7,430 cases registered, although the numbers are estimated to be higher since many go unreported.

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(With ANI Inputs)