On May 28, a widespread shutter strike took place in various areas of Sindh, accompanied by protests and marches organized by Jeay Sindh Mahaz (JSM).

The primary objective of these demonstrations was to express opposition to the digital population census conducted in 2023. Riaz Ali Chandio, the Chairman of JSM, emphasized the discontent among the people of Sindh, stating that the census results were perceived as a bogus population count aimed at marginalizing the Sindhi community. 

Chandio further accused the ruling elite, particularly the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), of colluding with MuttahidaQaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Jamaat-e-Islami in perpetuating this alleged conspiracy to reduce the Sindhi population to a minority in their own homeland. 

Chandiofurther demanded that the results of the census 2023 should be annulled; illegal immigrants from all countries staying in Sindh should be deported; restoring millions of rain and flood-affected people of 2022 catastrophe; enforcing 1991 water accord in letter and spirit; and putting an end to the tribal terrorism.

He blamed Punjab for continuously violating the 1991 accord for the last 32 years. He argued that Afghan illegal immigrants are being settled in Sindh cities of Karachi, Hyderabad and Thatta to occupy the province's coastal belt.

The JSM's chief alleged that those immigrants are involved in crimes and drug peddling.Chandio said the dacoits have snatched the sense security from the people living in districts of Sukkur, KashmoreKandhkot, Ghotki, Larkana, Kambar-Shahdadkot, Khairpur, Shikarpur, Dadu, and NoushehroFeroze.

While the MQM as the self-claimed champion of the rights of Urdu-speaking muhajir of Sindh, it has been accused of causing massive damage to Sindh’s urban areas, including Karachi, by endorsing terrorism, corruption, violence, fear, killings, and extortions.

Earlier, as reported about a month back on April 29, 2023, the Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah had said that the results of the digital census would not be acceptable to Sindh unless correct numbers of its population were reported.

Unfortunately, in a subtle way, PPP is trying to assimilate the non-Sindh people, residing in Sindh as domicile of the province. It would not be wrong to say that the attitude of PPP has been anti-Sindhi population, lately.

 In March, 2023, PPP, the ruling political party in Sindh, urged the relevant federal authorities to properly count illegal immigrants in the province in the upcoming digital census campaign in the country.PPP Sindh President, Senator Nisar Ahmed Khuhro demanded that the federal authorities should speed up the process of registering illegal immigrants in Sindh.

He said that the checking mechanism in this connection should be made more stringent at the international and inter-provincial borders in the country.Khuhro suggested that a bona fide citizen of the country should be duly counted at the place of his or her current residence without going into detail about the permanent address.

He stated that Sindh was home to many people who were natives of other provinces as they should be duly counted in the upcoming census drive.

In the month of February, 2023, it was reported that the census, was part of a conspiracy with the aim to establish that the “native population of Sindh is no longer a majority in the province.” That time, Chandio stated that PPP Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro had betrayed his party's intentions by suggesting that national identity cards be issued to Bengalis living in Pakistan.

He claimed that Afghans were 'causing problems for locals while calling for their abrupt deportation while criticising the PPP, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the MQM-P over their silence on the burning issue of repatriation of Afghans.

The movement and struggle for Sindh identity have its root in the years following the birth of Pakistan. 

The conflict over Sindhi identity is a major issue in the province, where Sindhis, Mohajirs, Punjabis, Gujratis, Pathans, and Baloch coexist. Sindhis have been outspoken about their separate heritage, language and culture, and have frequently questioned Pakistan's so-called Punjabisation. 

Moreover, since 1947, Sindh experienced numerous waves of migration of non-Sindhi people into the province.

Nearly 1 million Sindhi-speaking Hindus left for India, and in their place more than 1 million, Urdu-speaking people from different parts of India settled in Sindh. These muhajirs chiefly settled in urban centres of Karachi and Hyderabad.

When many Pashtun and other ethnic groups moved to the towns of Sindh during the rule of Ayub Khan, the second wave of migration towards Sindh gained momentum.

The Gohar Ayub-led victory rally in Karachi in 1964 led to tension and ultimately to rioting between Sindhis and Pashtuns. Ethnic Pathan-Mohajir politics in Sindh began with this.

 Sindh became the first province of post-1971 Pakistan where violent ethnic riots took place following the passage of Sindhi language bill by the majority members of Sindh Assembly in July 1972. Later, ethnic violence in Sindh during the years of 1988-1990 sternly hampered the level of ethnic tolerance between the Sindhi and Urdu-speaking communities.

The following decades also experienced constant bickering and violence between various communities in Sindh, especially amongst Baloch, Pashtuns, Muhajirs and Sindhis in Karachi, as a flashpoint of gang wars and violence.

Lately, the issue of Rohingya refugee rehabilitation in Sindh has once again brought the issue of non-Sindhi migration to the core of Sindhi discourse.

Their fears stem from an agreement recently signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia under which Islamabad will renew passports for Rohingya Muslims residing in Saudi Arabia.

Activists in Sindh say that lakhs of Rohingya people in Saudi Arabia will now be settled in their province.Approximate 3 lakh Rohingyas have already been concentrated in Karachi in two areas of Arakanabad and Ali Akbar Shah Goth.

Apart from waves of non-Sindhi immigration, there are several grievances of local Sindhi people.

The Sindhi nationalists claim the province was unlawfully occupied by the British Empire and then delivered to the Islamic nation of Pakistan in 1947 against the wishes of its population.

The Sindhis believe the state attack endangered their language, ethnicity, culture, and pluralistic values. The locals of Sindh are still struggling for basic infrastructure and developments in their province.

The Sindhis also complain of prevalent discrimination in the distribution of power and resources when compared to other provinces. Sindh generates 63 percent of the revenue, while all the power rests in the province of Punjab, which has a 65 percent population in the army.

Also, the language imposition of Urdu has happened, although Sindhis only speak Sindhi, which has resulted in the Sindhi language fading out in the respective society.

The plight of the Sindhi people and their struggle for recognition and preservation of their distinct identity continues to be a pressing issue in the modern world.  While the local Sindhi population continues to face immense challenges, their struggle for a distinct identity has garnered international attention.

However, speaking out against these injustices has become increasingly risky, with abduction, imprisonment, and torture of Sindhi nationalist leaders, activists, journalists, and students becoming all too common. Despite the prevailing atmosphere of fear and oppression, the indomitable spirit of the Sindhi community remains resolute in their desire to celebrate their unique identity that transcends religious boundaries.

Efforts must be made on both domestic and international fronts to address the grievances of the Sindhi people, safeguard their language and culture, and ensure equitable distribution of resources and power.

The recognition and protection of the rights of all communities, including the Sindhis, are essential for fostering a more inclusive and harmonious society in Pakistan. It is through such measures that the Sindhi people can find their rightful place in the diverse tapestry of Pakistan's cultural mosaic, contributing to a nation that respects and values the diversity of its citizens.