Eighteen months of nightmare have passed by in Delhi. And, the nightmare
is not yet over. It was worrisome for me that the persecution and the
persecutors would again say ‘hello’ to us even in India. I never knew that
Pakistani establishment has created a cloud of manipulations against us.
It was shocking, but not shaking that Pakistani agencies and the High Commission are being facilitated here against us. Eventually someone hinted that all this was being done through the facilitation by some non-South Asian countries. We have observed that there is understanding between India and Pakistan at the top level of establishment. We are dismissed in the time, however not aimlessly. We have to cobble-up the torn out pieces of our persona.
I have blogged much about some
fundamental details of the happenings around us. How can I forget when, on the
instigation of a surveillance person, I was beaten-up with wooden stick by the
watchmen of Gurdawara Sahib near Jantar Mantar only because I was having
cigarettes in my pocket! I was told not to enter the Gurdawar again. I felt a
sigh of relief indeed because it indicated me that the education of Guru Nanak
has yet to be spread and spread among the Sikhs and rest of the humanity.
There is enough account to thank so
many Indian citizens. Contrary to what was happening with us in Delhi, they
came forward and tried their best to support us.
I cannot forget the fundamental help
by a few of the university professors, who after our arrival in Delhi tried
their best. And, particularly a couple of rights bodies as well as our
journalist friends from Press Club of India. We also feel greatly obliged to
those activists from various states of India particularly from Gujarat,
Rajasthan, West Bengal, Madhya Pardesh, Mahrashtra, Delhi, UP, Haryana, Punjab,
Kashmir and Tamil Nadu who spared some moments to see us and express their
solidarity during our protest at Jantar Mantar.
Our financial resources are
restricted. Around fifty thousand Indian rupees given to us by some western human
rights bodies were stolen from Jantar Mantar. It was great kindness of a Sikh
restaurant owner who provided two times food on credit and without time limit
restrictions. India’s political power is starched around Raisina Road, which
did not bother to address our issue. But the trade unions, activists,
journalists, restaurants, tea-shops and the policemen arround the Raisina Road
supported us a lot within their personal limits.
We were, no doubt, given a very tough
time in the Pak Section of Delhi Police Bhawan, however there were some who
stood by our genuine issue. The most honorable is the National Human Rights
Commission (NHRC), India that gave a humanitarian look into our issue and sent
directives to the concerned departments for the appropriate actions, though
these directions unexpectedly were unheard. I cannot forget one sentence that
was uttered by a visa department official in 2013, ‘You are a Muslim from
Pakistan. You cannot get refugee status in India.’ At the same time, I cannot
forget some timely actions by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) India which
were a kind of legitimate relief in the roughest times.
It was a kind of storm for us when
the newly elected parliament was holding first meeting. A few persons came at
Jantar Mantar and threw away our stuff. We were asked to dislodge protest. What
I could say expect that as if we were facing demon-cracy in the largest
democracy of the world.
Amid all this, I cannot forget Mr.
Singh who supported us with a Razai (blanket) in winter while we use to sleep
on the Jantar Mantar pavements. Sympathy and love by this Punjabi family is an
unforgettable memory.
I have applied for refugee
resettlement outside India. I am unable to avail the support by United Nations
High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), India because they are not allowed to
help refugees from Pakistan. My passport is about to get expired within
upcoming six months. I would not be able to move outside India if our issue is
not resolved before that.
Undergoing ruthless persecution
combined with the nonexistence of financial resources is what we are pushed
towards. Our sin is very simple and naïve. We were persecuted and were posited
in Pakistan due to our civil and political rights activism; persecuted and
poisoned in Nepal due to our writings against division of Sindh, and against
crimes against humanity committed by Pakistan. We are being persecuted in India
due to our political opinion. What else we could do except that to file
complaints and petitions against our persecutors in the concerned components of
the United Nations.
We truly feel that being a Sindhi is
a big crime. There are so many people who want a share in the usurpation of
Sindh! Rest assured we would give fight unto the last! Amid this stormy
atmosphere, support by those Indian citizens who sympathized with us will
always remain an unforgettable asset.
O our persecutor! O world power! Stop
using you intelligence agencies against us. Why do you fear one activist and
analyst?
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