THATTA, Aug 18: The district administration and law enforcement agencies have initiated separate investigations into the selling of a truckload of relief goods to traders in the Jati taluka.

The taluka police, accompanied by Muttahida Qaumi Movement activists Abu Shahid, Mohammad Hayat and Adil Leghari, confiscated a consignment of relief items being shifted from the Autaq (guest house) of Jati Union Council Nazim Mohammad Juman Malkani to the warehouse of local traders, Mohammad Sharif and Haji Ghoro Memon, in a van (KE-2355).

Personnel of law enforcement agencies and revenue officers have recorded statements of rain victims in this regard.

The Muttahida activists told this correspondent that the local chapter of the party had furnished a comprehensive report on distribution of relief goods which would soon be submitted to the Sindh governor.

Meanwhile, a joint action committee of residents, affected people and activists of political parties and NGOs, headed by Dildar Samejo, also furnished a report in this regard.

Talking to journalists, Mr Samejo said the DCO had assigned the EDO, revenue, Shakeel Hashmi, to probe the matter.

However, DCO Usman Panhwar said it was premature to comment on the matter as it was being looked into.

The district Nazim was not available for his comments.

District council: The Thatta District Council at its session held on Monday demanded that the Sindh government should declare the district as a calamity-affected area.

It further demanded that agricultural loans, land revenue, Ushr and Abyana should be waived off and growers be provided with interest-free loans.

The session called upon the Sindh government to provide funds to repair and streamline the drainage system. It held the drainage department responsible for breaches in drains that wreaked havoc in the district.

It also demanded funds for rehabilitation of the affected people.

The council hailed District Nazim Syed Shafqat Hussain Shah Shirazi for ensuring judicious distribution of relief goods among the people.

Dr Barkat Khwaja, Aziz Kalmati, Ali Akbar Shah, Wazir Lashari, Dilshad Shah Amir Khani, Ayesha Soho and other district council members spoke at the session.

They stressed the need for long-term measures and permanent rehabilitation of the affected people.

The district Nazim informed the session that anti-malaria spray was being carried out in the district and in this connection UNICEF had delivered a consignment of drugs to district health authorities.

He said the survey of losses in 57 dehs of 55 union councils was also going on.

He disclosed that the district government had distributed relief goods worth Rs1.3 million among rain victims of the district.

Mr Shirazi said every district council member would be given Rs500,000 out of the district budget to carry out development work in his area during the current year.

Mureed Khoso Union Council Nazim Mir Mohammad Othu demanded that the Mukhtiarkar of Jati should be reinstated.

The convener of the council, Ibrahim Gandhro, presided over the meeting.