Sindhi National Congress holds protest against land grabs, enforced disappearances by Pak

By Anjali Sharma

WASHINGTON – The Sindhian National Congress on Monday organized the Sindh March in Hyderabad to protest against land grabs, environmental degradation, enforced disappearances, and widespread human rights violations.

This significant mobilization brought together thousands of participants from across Sindh, including Karachi, Larkana, Badin, Sukkur, Khairpur, Nawabshah, Dadu, Umerkot, Tharparkar, and more. Labourers, peasants, lawyers, political activists, social workers, women, and children marched in solidarity, made it one of the most notable protests in recent memory.

According to media reports a central demand of the march was the recognition of the Indus River, Karoonjhar Hills, and Khirthar Mountains as protected heritage sites under the Ramsar Convention, with legal custodianship granted to the people of Sindh.

Protestors raised grave concerns about environmental destruction caused by deforestation, coal mining, industrial emissions, and the declining freshwater flow of the Indus River–all of which pose a threat to millions of lives.

The SNC demanded that climate funds be redirected toward the welfare and resilience of local communities most affected by ecological collapse.

Human Rights was the urgent focus.

Protestors strongly condemned the enforced disappearances, abductions, and unlawful imprisonment of political activists, denouncing these actions as violations of both international human rights conventions and Pakistan’s constitution.

They declared that such repression would not silence Sindh political voice or deter its people from their pursuit of justice and self-determination.

The protest reignited the call for the restoration of student unions in educational institutions across Sindh, aimed to transform campuses into hubs of scientific innovation, democratic engagement, and progressive change.

SNC announced plans to build a secular, democratic, socialist, and people-powered political organization to further these goals.

The awareness campaigns and more marches are scheduled in some of the most affected districts, including Badin, Sujawal, and Thatta.

Formed by Sindhi nationalist politicians, the Sindhian National Congress was formed in 2006 through the merger of the Sindh National Council and other Sindhi nationalist groups.

The party was established to advocate for the rights and autonomy of the Sindhi people within Pakistan.