Interview

Faryal Akhter Brohi: Her Story of Struggle from Social Work to Politics
Interview by Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi

Presented By Saroh Social Development Organization Shahdadkot Saroh Office, Near Scientific Public School, Railway Station Road, Shahdadkot, District Kamber-Shahdadkot, Sindh, Pakistan- 77300 Ph: +92-74-4012896, Cell: +92-3337505896 E-mail: musapervagans@yahoo.com 2010 1

Faryal Akhter Brohi: Her Story of Struggle from Social Work to Politics Interview by Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi
Could you please tell us about your Biography? I was born on 17th July 1980 at a small village Muhammad Usman Brohi, taluka Miro Khan District Larkana, Sindh. My father Abdul Karim Brohi had been associated with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for last many decades. Presently he is Finance Secretary of PPP District Kamber-Shahdadkot. While my mother Bibi Mariyam Brohi is a housewife. I have 3 brothers and 4 sisters. Raheem Bux Brohi, my grandfather was a poor farmer. He belonged to Lehri family of Brahui (Brohi) tribe. A century ago our ancestors had migrated from KachhiGandava Blaochistan and settled down in Kamber area, Sindh. What is your qualification? I have got Masters Degree in Economics from Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur, Sindh in 2007. These days Im doing LLB from Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Law College Larkana. What inspired you to start doing social activities? As I was an educated girl so I used to take part in minor social activities within my family and relatives. My father was the first person who provided education to his sons and daughters from our all relatives. Its why I was inclined with my fathers political activities. When District Kamber-Shahdadkot was formed in December 2004 Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto ordered party to organize a new set up for this newly created district. She also asked party workers to encourage their family members for different designations. Seeing my bent of mind for social activities, my father advised me to come forward and I started my services as a worker for PPP. Whats your designation in Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)? Im President of Pakistan Peoples Party (Ladies Wing) for District Kamber-Shahdadkot, Sindh from 2004 onwards. How did you come to know that you have Politics in you? My interest in politics began when I met Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto at Naundero House in 2007. There I was introduced to her first time. She bestowed her love and affection upon me. She also said that she is happy to see a young girl on the designation of president ship. In the last of this meeting she said to me thank you very much. Listening these words I felt myself on the top of world. How many times did you meet Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in person? I met Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto five times on different occasions but I could talk to her only for 2 times. I got another opportunity to meet Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto Sahiba when she came to Larkana during election campaign in late 2007.At that time I made her request for MPA Seat from our district. She ensured me for this but unfortunately she was assassinated very soon in Rawalpindi on 27th December 2007. In this way her promise remained unfulfilled. How would you define Mohtarma Benazir Bhuttos Personality? I have no words to define her personality but I would like to say that she was a brave, committed and a patriot democrat. Her father Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto gave voice to people of Pakistan while she introduced women politics in our country. She struggled to empower women on all forums throughout her life.

What were your emotions and feelings on the assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto? On that day, I was invited in a marriage ceremony of a worker of PPP at Kamber city. One of my female friends informed me through SMS about the attack on Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Sahiba. On this I rushed back to my home to know the current situation and I kept on praying for her long life and safety on the way. When I reached my home I saw that my family members were listening to the news on TV. Later her death news was confirmed by Babar Awan on different channels. When I listened this unexpected news I became a statue. I fainted in grief. My house was replete with female party workers. We all were lamenting on the martyrdom of Bibi Sahiba. We thought that one of our relative has died. We could not eat or drink for 3 days in this grief. You mentioned that you are President of PPP Ladies wing of District Kamber-Shahdadkot. What strategy did you adopt to highlight womens issues and their development? Before me there was no proper organization within PPP Ladies Wing. When I became party president I focused to re-organize Ladies Wing. I prioritized womens participation in different activities. Slowly my encouragement and hard working gave fruitful results. A large number of female workers became active to highlight and work for womens development. I conducted frequent meetings with female workers for collective struggle to empower the party. The previous presidents and workers were less interested that is why they remained mostly silent and inactive. They could only get a few jobs for their relatives otherwise their progress was unsatisfactory. I activated the party from District to Taluka and UC level. Please tell us what have you done to develop women of the Kamber-Shahdadkot district? I have raised voice for 33% quota of Jobs for women but Im sorry to say I have not been able to succeed in this struggle up till. As we have to follow our mother party hence we are waiting for its implementation. Im striving for establishment of Ladies Police Station at Kamber Headquarter. There is a great need of Shelter Home in the district because a large number of women become victim of domestic violence. The construction of Benazir Bhutto Womens Hospital in Kamber is my dream. We are working on it and the work is in the pipeline. Doctors, Consultants and Gynecologists would be employed in this hospital. I have also done correspondence with provincial and federal governments in this regard. Recently on 27th December 2009 we made a request to President Asif Ali Zardari for issuing a budget for this hospital. We are trying for openings of these institutions in our area on prior basis. According to the Report prepared by Saroh Social Development Organization Shahdadkot nearly 100 women have been killed in the name of Honour Killing, Domestic Violence, Tribal Conflicts and Choice Marriage only in last 5 years? What will you say regarding this worst situation? I think the main cause of Karo Kari (Honour Killing) is illiteracy and poverty. These killings dont happen in literate and educated families. For ending violence against women (VAW) and honour killing we will have to educate all the people i.e. men, women and children. Though a bill has been also passed by the present government but its implementation is still questionable. Lets pray for the implementation of this bill. Not only education but all district issues are my issues and I always try my level best to solve them. I share these issues and problems with high authorities in Aiwan-e-sadar Islamabad too. You know that women have to face a lot in Transportation especially those who are the pregnant and the sick. They pay Rs.60 as fare from Shahdadkot to Kamber in a wagon which is the fare for Larkana. Shahdadkot Passengers face hectic troubles while they return back to their homes from Kamber in buses because there are no wagons from Kamber to Shahdadkot. Why PPP Government is not taking initiatives to start CNG vehicles for Shahdadkot via Kamber and Larkana? I had no information of womens difficulties about conveyance regarding Shahdadkot Larkana route. Now I will try to start a Wagon service from Shahdadkot to Kamber and thence towards Larkana. This will benefit the all passengers. I will discuss this issue with DCO Kamber-Shahdadkot soon. What would you say about the use of low quality material in construction of Shahdadkot Mega Project?

After complaints of low quality material in Shahdadkot Mega Projects, the contract is taken back from Contractors and is handed over to National Highway Authority (NHA) now. We hope that all Mega Projects will be completed in PPP Government. What initiatives have been taken to increase Girls Education and Adult Literacy in the region? I myself have facilitated NCHD, NEF and SEF in remote areas and village, of the district in order to promote education. Many schools have been opened after my initiative in Kamber, Miro Khan and Qubo Saeed Khan Talukas. PPP will also open adult literacy centers in, villages as well as in cities. Shahdadkot is a seat of learning from mid 19th Century. Its teachers and students have played great role in the development of Sindh. The students of city demand for a well equipped library meant for students preparing for CSS. Would you please take personal efforts to establish a Modern Library along with Auditorium? I hope PPP Government will upgrade and deliver Muhammad Aslam Khuhawar Municipal Library Shahdadkot to Culture Department and provide all facilities to it which are provided to Sir Shahnawaz Khan Bhutto Memorial Library Larkana. Schools and colleges are in dire of Computer and Science Labs. What would you say about educational institutions having no such facilities? Schools and Colleges are provided Computers but if there are educational institutions having no facilities we would like to refer them to Education and Literacy Department Government of Sindh. I myself have seen girls operating computers in Nasirabad and Shahdadkot. The citizens of Shahdadkot dont have safe drinking water. Millions of Rupees are spent for water purchasing every year. In the second period of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Government a plan was made to provide sweet water to citizens of Shahdadkot from Larkana but nothing was done in this regard. A water supply scheme was constructed in Musharaf Government with a cost of 1.4 Million Rupees. The project ruined as it had no electricity connection to start its motors. What would you say for this? The water supply scheme was constructed by Musharaf Regime therefore I cant say about this scheme but I will take up Shahdadkot water issue in the presence of Madam Faryal Talpur and President Asif Ali Zardari and I m sure this issue will be solved and Shahdadkot citizens will get sweet drinking water very soon. Vocational Centers have importance in the economic development of women. What steps will you take to develop Vocational Centre in Shahdadkot? Vocational Centers are opened in all 7 talukas of district Kamber-Shahdadkot. I will strive for its development and other required facilities. Large populations in the district dont have proper health facilities. Many women and children die during pregnancy period? Whats being done to address this issue? In Kamber, we are trying to open Benazir Bhutto Women Hospital which will benefit a large population of the district. Similarly a children Hospital will be established at Shahdadkot with the name of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in near future. I will also ask Government Health Department to provide Snake and Rabies vaccines in taluka hospitals for poor masses. You Know Hepatitis B-C & Delta Virus have killed thousands of people in the western parts of district. People living near F.P.Bund in Qubo Saeed Khan areas have suffered a lot due to this disease. In the beginning of 2010 madam Faryal Talpur paid a visit to Shahdadkot and laid foundation stone of Hepatitis Screening Centre at Taluka Hospital but sorry to say nothing practical is done up till in this connection. Could you please tell us? Yes I know. The construction work will be started very soon.

Girls students of High Schools and Colleges face difficulty while they walk through encroached roads, streets and bazaars especially at opening and closing hours of educational institutions. Dont you think Encroachment is an alarming issue? Obviously its an issue which should be solved by TMOs. When TMO Kamber started an operation against encroachments in the city he faced bitter opposition and was beaten by the shopkeepers. We will talk about it with local government officials. The public should also love their city to keep it neat and clean. Its sign of a civilized society. Law & Order situation is critical in Shahdadkot. Robberies, murders and thefts are a daily routine. Girls high school and college students need safety. Do you agree? Yes I agree. I shall raise this issue and discuss with DPO Kamber-Shahdadkot Mr. Junaid Ahmed Sheikh for its solution. He is doing better and Law & Order situation has become better in PPP government. We also expect positive role from police, public and civil society organizations to address this issue. I hope police will be deployed on main roads and muhallas during school openining and closing times. What initiatives have been taken by PPP Government to empower women farmers? Our government has distributed agricultural lands among women farmers through Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO) in the district. This distribution is done by DDOs and Mukhtiarkars therefore I dont know where these lands have been distributed. SRSO has also provided granular to poor farmers. District Kamber-Shahdadkot was badly affected by Flood Disaster in June 2007. We saw a huge destruction and migration in the area with a loss of 20 human lives. Hundreds of habitations along with standing crops and livestock were washed away. F.P.Bund was completely destroyed. Why dont you ask Government of Sindh to strengthen F.P.Bund and Saifullah Magsi Branch Embankments with Stone pitching? RBOD-III is a killer project for the district. Do you agree? Foreign countries donated 6 billion rupees to Parvez Musharaf for rescue and rehabilitation of flood affected people. Each of the family was to be paid Rs. 15000 but unfortunately we do not know where this amount was spent. Some 3 months back District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) organized a meeting in Kamber I asked one of the concerned officials for that amount. He replied me that he had no information. NGOs did an excellent work in rescue and rehabilitation of the affected people. In 2009, I asked Syed Murad Ali Shah, Minister for Irrigation in a public forum at Kamber that FP Bund is weak therefore it should be strengthened with stone pitching. I remember that one of the responsible Irrigation Officer noted my point in his diary and we hope this will happen in our government. The PPP government announced Kamber-Shahdadkot district as emergency stricken area hence farmers were freed from land and water taxes. I could do this only with the coordination and cooperation of local NGOs. I agree that RBOD-III is a dangerous project for Shahdadkot. The construction work on RBOD-III was stopped on the orders of Madam Faryal Talpur and we are planning to compensate the affected people. In your eyes whats role of NGOs in the development of society? I know that there more than 130 NGOs registered in District Social Welfare department but I think some of them are active. The role of Pirbhat Womens Development Society (PWDS) Shahdadkot and NGOs Development Society (NDS) Shahdadkot is appreciable in this connection. I hope other local NGOs will also struggle for the development of our people. How do you see Local Government System in the province? I think that Local Government System is not in the favor of our people and province.

What do you think about the rumors regarding failure of PPP Government and northern area operation? Some anchors of different channels are criticizing PPP leaders and demanding resignation from president but we say that all of our leaders are brave and responsible to nation. They will face courts and prove that they are real democrats. PPP is serving the nation and it will keep up this mission in future also. The rumors are baseless. Since 1995 Bomb Blasts and Acts of Terrorism are a daily routine in the country. Will PPP Government be able to control Terrorism in Pakistan? Our forces are fighting in Waziristan, Bajaur and Kuram Agencies. We will end terrorism in the country. Its not issue of only Swat but its our collective issue. We have belief in God that there would be one day when no terrorist activity would happen in our motherland. In your opinion whats future of Pakistan Peoples Party? The future of PPP is bright. We expect this government will complete 5 years tenure. I have met PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. He is very intelligent like his mother. We hope that he will lead the party on right way and will be elected as prime minister of Pakistan in future. We know that a great loss has happened after the martyrdom of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Sahiba. All institutions were burnt nothing remained safe. We have built a new Pakistan after this incident. Load shedding and water related issues will be solves very soon. Many complaints are identified in Benazir Bhutto Income Support Programme? Women have to stand under sunny sky and wait for long hours. The postmen demand Rs. 100on each Rs.1000. Why? Yes I know. We have noticed these complaints. Actually mob is made by people themselves. The banks only have to provide an amount for only 100 persons daily. Government of Sindh has introduced a new card for womens economic development. The women themselves would be able to get money from banks now. I shall raise Postmen issue with party and will try to facilitate women in right way. We support women not only with Benazir Income support Programme but I myself have distributed 200 Sewing machines among women belonging to various areas of the district. Our party office bearers have also distributed more than 1000 forms of BISP earlier. Have you ever been out of country? I went to Peoples Republic of China in 2009 along with a youth delegation. It was an official visit. The delegation was consisted on 155 members having 50 males, 50 females and 5 Government officials. The delegation remained in China for 10 days. We were introduced with VIPs there. Different activities were conducted and many games were played and we enjoyed from Chinese cultural shows. I learnt about Chinese socio-political history, its culture and art through this delegation. I and Amber Parveen Abro (PPP District Gen: Secretary) were participants of this delegation from District Kamber-Shahdadkot, Sindh. Do you love to read books and magazines? Which is your favorite book? I m interested in reading political books. I love to read books written by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Sahiba. My favorite book is Daughter of the East. Who is your favorite poet? Allama Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, the poet of the east. He was a revolutionary poet and an honest leader. What season and colour do you like the most? I love Spring and my favorite colour is White and Green. Whats your favorite food?

I m fond of eating Biryani. What about Music? Sure, I love music because its food of soul. Whats your opinion about Sufism? I have studies Sufism and I love it. Sindh is famous for its Sufi saints and their poetry all over the world. What Initiatives are you taking for the development of Sindhi Language and Culture? Im struggling that Sindhi Language should be declared as national language in Pakistan. Sindh Government is trying its level best to promote culture and tourism. Your ideal personalities please? Hazrat Muhammad (Peace be upon him), Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari are my favorite personalities. Any Message for readers? Lets educate all Sindh and its people.

This Interview was published in English Daily Sindh Tribune Karachi, on February 7, 2010