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THATTA, Feb 12: Hundreds of fishermen of the Thatta coastal belt and various wetlands of the district held a protest demonstration here on Thursday. They were protesting against the eviction of fishermen by local influential people and the use of prohibited fishing nets.
The protesters, including activists of the People's Party Parliamentarians, Awami Tehrik and the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, gathered at Makli from the Keenjhar Lake, Haleji, Bothro and various other areas in a motorcade and started march towards Thatta.
They also chanted slogans for release of water downstream Kotri, grant of incentives and facilities to fishermen and implementing the ban on prohibited fishing nets.
Led by Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum chairman Mohammad Ali Shah, Saeed Baloch, Gulab Shah, Shafi Murger and PPP MPA Sassui Palijo, the protesters reached the Machi Mark where they were welcomed and garlanded by various organizations.
Later, after marching through the Shahi Bazaar, they reached the press club where they staged a sit-in on the National Highway for two hours. Speaking on the occasion, the leaders accused personnel of coastguard, Rangers and other agencies operating at coastal sites of making lives of fishermen miserable.
They said the frequent use of prohibited nets and the non-release of sweet water downstream Kotri had jeopardized the future of fishermen and compelled them to migrate to urban area.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum, Thatta, president Pir Ghulam Nabi Shah, general-secretary Mohammad Shafi Marghar and treasurer Mohammad Raheem Jokhio have accused influential persons of depriving fishermen of their fishing rights and using creeks as their smuggling dens in the district.
They were speaking at a press conference at the press club here on Wednesday.
POLIO CASE: The number of polio cases in remote areas of the district has risen to eight as one more case of the disease has been detected. Asghar Ali, 4, son of Akbar Ali Jatoi, of the Mangio Jatoi village, Mirpur Bathoro taluka, has been diagnosed with polio.
However, when contacted, the EDO health, Dr Hafeez Memon, said the boy was not infected with polio but with another disease.
INJURED: Nawaz Ali Khwaja, younger brother of Dawn correspondent Mohammad Iqbal Khwaja, was injured in a motorcycle accident here on Wednesday. He was taken to the Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad.
