18 November 2004	Thursday	05 Shawwal 1425

KARACHI, Nov 17: Ghinva Bhutto, chairperson of the PPP-Shaheed Bhutto, has deplored the KBCA's act of demolishing poor people's houses in Shah Rasool Colony, opposite Abdullah Shah Ghazi's mazar, on the eve of Eidul Fitr and rendering scores of families homeless.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, Ms Bhutto deplored the KBCA staff, led by Brig Nasir, for taking such an action in the presence of the Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad the night before Eid.

She equated the action with those being taken under the shameful policies of the Zionist entity against the Palestinian people. She said that it was the responsibility of the government to protect honour of its citizens, especially the poor, and enable them to own a shelter.

Talking to a group of the affected people at the 70-Clifton, Ghinva Bhutto said that instead of providing shelter to the shelter less, the government had chosen to render the poor homeless in the presence of the top functionary.

Ms Bhutto visited the locality where demolition was carried out. She also marched up to the Schon Circle along with the protesters who continued their march towards the Governor's House.

As she reached at the point, police and staff of the Governor's House reached there. The governor's Principal Secretary, Brig Akhtar Zamin, talked to her over telephone and said that the demolition had been stopped. He also invited Ms Bhutto at the Governor's House at 1:00pm on Thursday to discuss the issue.

The PPP-SB chairperson consulted with the affected people and later declared that representatives of the dislodged families would be part of her delegation. Urging the government to conduct survey of certain localities and ensure shelter to shelter less, she maintained that such problems emerged when rulers failed in providing a shelter to deserving families.

Meanwhile, the Karachi chapter of Pasban has also deplored the demolition and urged the chief minister to order a halt to this highhandedness and demolition of leased house on the pretext of encroachment removal. It also demanded punitive action against those found responsible for this diabolic act.