KARACHI, Nov 4: The opposition in Sindh Assembly has decided to requisition the assembly session to discuss the problem that had arisen by the alleged victimization of fishermen by rangers.

The requisition by the Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians has also been endorsed the Muttahida Majlis-i- Amal and its parliamentary leader Maulana Umar Sadiq become one of the 43 signatories on Thursday, sources said.

The PPP was expected to submit its requisition on Thursday, but delay was caused as some other members were also expected to sign the requisition.

The PPP had also raised the issue in the Senate and the matter was subsequently sent to the committee dealing with the interior ministry. The matter is expected to come up again after Eid.

The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum had been condemning the rangers for their alleged atrocities against the fishermen in Badin district. The requisition, being moved under Article 54(3), is aimed at discussing the unrest caused amongst the fishermen of the coastal areas of Badin and Thatta districts due to alleged harassment and illegal actions by the rangers.

The opposition was of the view that fishing "contracts" given to the rangers in the coastal areas of Sindh, including Badin and Thatta, be immediately cancelled.

Water areas, namely Shakoor Dhandh, Adda Khan, Shoikhani Oari and Sam Nullah were given to the Thar (Indus) Rangers Badin for augmentation in 1977. But in 1994, permission was cancelled and Assistant Director, fisheries, district Badin had informed the Wing Commander, Thar Rangers, accordingly, saying that the "Rangers Authority is no more lessee of the said water areas from the date of cancellation of lease.

In early 1980s, the rangers had requested to the government for permission to its jawans, posted in Badin for law and order duties, to catch fish for their consumption. The permission was granted.

The rangers started to occupy lakes and ponds in the Badin district one by one and at present they had fully occupied over a dozen big coastal lakes, a large number of network of small ponds, and private land that had been converted into saline ponds after the 1999 cyclone, it was stated.

The Thar Rangers appointed the contractors and the fishermen were forced to sell their fish and shrimp catch to these favoured people. They offered contractors rock-bottom prices for their catch, the Fisherfolk representatives maintained.

As a result the big-sized shrimp that was sold in Karachi for Rs 300, the fishermen were forced to sell this shrimp between Rs 15 and Rs 20 to the contractor.