Tamachi on politics, Sindh and the past
February 22, 2009
Karachi
Jam Tamachi, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Sindh, credits British rule in the Sub-continent for launching forest-growing schemes along the bank of River Indus to avoid floods and disasters.
Speaking to The News about the state of affairs of localities situated along the Indus River in Sindh, Tamachi said that the British had approached Sindhi landlords to donate pieces of land to grow forests along the river, to which land owners responded positively. Forestation along the river bank ensued to save the population settled along the river and keep the environment intact, he added.
“My forefathers had also donated land to the British rulers for the purpose. Now the same forest lands are being cultivated by certain people, exposing the communities to devastation,” he reacted.
Born in Qazi Ahmed Town, Noshehroferoz, Jam Tamachi belongs to the same Sama dynasty (1351-1521 AD), whose ruler, Jam Tamachi – son of Jam Unar – had tied the knot with a poor girl, Noori, from a fisherfolk family living near the Keenjhar Lake. The wedding has become a legend that has inspired many Sindhi poets over the years. The story has also been adapted for a film. Noori’s grave, located in the middle of Keenjhar Lake, still attracts hundreds of people who visit and pay tribute to the great love story.
Tamachi was of the view that forests play a major role in providing sustenance to hundreds of families in the vicinity. “However, successive governments were unable to maintain the forests and awarded the land to their political well-wishers, who then razed major parts of forests, leaving the human population at the mercy of devastation, and also depriving the communities of their source of living,” he said.
Explaining further, he said that there is no accountability in the true sense here. “Legislators have their development quota. It is up to them how they utilize the funds in their constituencies.”
He denied that development funds are generally misappropriated by legislators, “This rule cannot be applied generally; some honest people are active, taking care of their voters.”
The chieftain of Unar tribe, which is considered as the highest tribe or “elder brother” of all the Samat tribes of Sindh, Jam Tamachi says he has inherited politics and acquired political insight through his interaction with different politicians such as Makhdoom Talibul Maula, Pir Sahib Pagaro, GM Syed, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, his father Faqeer Rasool Bakhsh Unar and other significant politicians. His father, Rasool Bakhsh Unar, was among the legislators that passed the resolution to form Pakistan at the forum of the Sindh Assembly in 1937.
Unars of Qazi Ahmed are known reformists, highly polite and non-aggressive. They helped develop a Safari Park in the town several years back, wherein wild animals and birds were kept and made available to the public. They have also established a cultural centre within the park where the elder Unars used to organise conferences on the provincial level.
Sharing his political experience, Tamachi said that he has observed that since the Zia-ul-Haq era, most legislators do not like to take risks and challenge wrongdoings around them. They have fixed personal targets to achieve during their stay in the government and are always active in this pursuit. He said that there are only few people who sincerely think of national interest.
Talking about his political background, the soft-spoken legislator recalls that he became a member of the Majlis Shoora during the Zia government in 1982 and was later elected as a senator in 1985. He joined the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in 1988 and was elected a Sindh Assembly member. He does not believe in tribalism and says that, in Sindh, there are landlords who should be recognised as tribal chieftains.
Talking about Autaq—a traditional sitting place—he believes that, “maintaining it is a fulltime job. People living in the vicinity expect everything from landlords, pouring there frequently to settle their disputes, which is difficult as we can not spare time due to hectic political activities.” He said that, when he goes to his native town, at least 200-300 people visit his Autaq daily. He says that he prefers to settle their petty issues in time to avoid clashes caused by delayed justice. “I am careful about continuing to help the area people,” he claims.
Jam Tamachi, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Sindh, credits British rule in the Sub-continent for launching forest-growing schemes along the bank of River Indus to avoid floods and disasters.
Speaking to The News about the state of affairs of localities situated along the Indus River in Sindh, Tamachi said that the British had approached Sindhi landlords to donate pieces of land to grow forests along the river, to which land owners responded positively. Forestation along the river bank ensued to save the population settled along the river and keep the environment intact, he added.
“My forefathers had also donated land to the British rulers for the purpose. Now the same forest lands are being cultivated by certain people, exposing the communities to devastation,” he reacted.
Born in Qazi Ahmed Town, Noshehroferoz, Jam Tamachi belongs to the same Sama dynasty (1351-1521 AD), whose ruler, Jam Tamachi – son of Jam Unar – had tied the knot with a poor girl, Noori, from a fisherfolk family living near the Keenjhar Lake. The wedding has become a legend that has inspired many Sindhi poets over the years. The story has also been adapted for a film. Noori’s grave, located in the middle of Keenjhar Lake, still attracts hundreds of people who visit and pay tribute to the great love story.
Tamachi was of the view that forests play a major role in providing sustenance to hundreds of families in the vicinity. “However, successive governments were unable to maintain the forests and awarded the land to their political well-wishers, who then razed major parts of forests, leaving the human population at the mercy of devastation, and also depriving the communities of their source of living,” he said.
Explaining further, he said that there is no accountability in the true sense here. “Legislators have their development quota. It is up to them how they utilize the funds in their constituencies.”
He denied that development funds are generally misappropriated by legislators, “This rule cannot be applied generally; some honest people are active, taking care of their voters.”
The chieftain of Unar tribe, which is considered as the highest tribe or “elder brother” of all the Samat tribes of Sindh, Jam Tamachi says he has inherited politics and acquired political insight through his interaction with different politicians such as Makhdoom Talibul Maula, Pir Sahib Pagaro, GM Syed, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, his father Faqeer Rasool Bakhsh Unar and other significant politicians. His father, Rasool Bakhsh Unar, was among the legislators that passed the resolution to form Pakistan at the forum of the Sindh Assembly in 1937.
Unars of Qazi Ahmed are known reformists, highly polite and non-aggressive. They helped develop a Safari Park in the town several years back, wherein wild animals and birds were kept and made available to the public. They have also established a cultural centre within the park where the elder Unars used to organise conferences on the provincial level.
Sharing his political experience, Tamachi said that he has observed that since the Zia-ul-Haq era, most legislators do not like to take risks and challenge wrongdoings around them. They have fixed personal targets to achieve during their stay in the government and are always active in this pursuit. He said that there are only few people who sincerely think of national interest.
Talking about his political background, the soft-spoken legislator recalls that he became a member of the Majlis Shoora during the Zia government in 1982 and was later elected as a senator in 1985. He joined the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in 1988 and was elected a Sindh Assembly member. He does not believe in tribalism and says that, in Sindh, there are landlords who should be recognised as tribal chieftains.
Talking about Autaq—a traditional sitting place—he believes that, “maintaining it is a fulltime job. People living in the vicinity expect everything from landlords, pouring there frequently to settle their disputes, which is difficult as we can not spare time due to hectic political activities.” He said that, when he goes to his native town, at least 200-300 people visit his Autaq daily. He says that he prefers to settle their petty issues in time to avoid clashes caused by delayed justice. “I am careful about continuing to help the area people,” he claims.
