04 November 2004	Thursday	20 Ramazan 1425

KARACHI, Nov 3: The fishermen community living along the 350-km-long coastline in Sindh observed 'black day' on Wednesday amid their continued dispute with Rangers over fishing near Badin coast.

The protesters, belonging to the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, Moriro Meerbahar Movement and various other organizations, erected banners, inscribed with slogans in support of their demands, in their localities and outside the offices of their organizations.

The black day was announced by the PFF as part of its week-long protest. Fishermen staged protest rallies in Karachi, Badin, Thatta and other parts of Sindh to mark the day.

The rally in Karachi was staged at the fish harbour. Leaders of the Fishermen Cooperative Society Employees Union and PFF were among those participated in the rally.

Addressing the protesters, Saeed Baloch, Khuda Ganj Shad, Kausar Sadiq and other activists of the PFF vowed to continue their struggle for the rights of fishermen.

"Fisherman is the real custodian of the sea, one of the country's natural resources," they maintained, and condemned that the government machinery was bent upon depriving fishermen of their legitimate rights.

They demanded release of all detained fish workers of Badin and protection to the traditional fishermen facing a threat to their lives.

They described the Rangers' occupation of the coastal area at Zero Point, Badin, as a violation of the Sindh Fisheries Ordinance 1980, and said that the Thar Rangers must stop atrocities against fishermen and vacate the coastal lakes.-PPI