SUKKUR, Dec 7: Hundreds of people held demonstrations in Mirpur Mathelo, Daharki, Reharki, Ubauro and other parts of the Ghotki district against the Sindh government’s reported plan to create more union councils in the district. The move, they alleged, was being taken to strengthen the position of Mahar Sardars in the forthcoming local body elections in the district.
The protesters, including workers of different political parties, former nazims and councillors and members of the Ghotki Action Committee, also observed a token hunger strike. Political parties which participated in the protest included the People’s Party Parliamentarians, Jamaat-i-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Pakistan Muslim League-N and the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz.
Speaking on the occasion, MNA Khalid Lund alleged that the Sindh chief minister wanted to change boundaries of varies union councils and increase the number of union councils to favour Mahar Sardars.
He said that before making such changes, people of the area should be taken into confidence and their point of view should be respected.
However, he regretted, the chief minister was ignoring the public opinion.
He said the Supreme Court would be approached if the Sindh government did not rescind the decision.
He urged the government and the Election Commission to conduct the local body election in existing 35 union councils of the Ghotki district as ordered by the Supreme Court.
DEMONSTRATION: A large number of journalists and political and social activists held a protest demonstration and staged a sit-in on the National Highway in Daharki for one hour on Wednesday.
They were protesting against registration of what they called a fake robbery case against a journalist, Shams Bhutto.
Activists of the Sindh Taraqqi Pasand party, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Movement, Human Rights, Sindh Hari Committee, Sindh National Front and other parties participated in the protest.
Speaking on the occasion, the protesters alleged that the Daharki SHO had registered a fake case against Mr Bhutto.
They demanded that the SHO should be transferred and the case against the journalist should be withdrawn. They warned that they would launch a protest movement if their demands were not accepted.