December 14, 2006	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 22, 1427

KARACHI, Dec 13: Fisherfolk including women and children from different areas along Karachi’s coast observed a token hunger-strike outside Karachi Press Club on Wednesday.

They were protesting against the forced eviction of their community from two islands and its handing over to a foreign firm developing posh housing projects. The strike was part of a campaign launched by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum against the sale of the two islands.

Holding placards and banners, the protestors staged a sit-in and chanted slogans against the project. Speaking to the gathering, PFF Chairman Mohammad Ali Shah condemned the demolition of houses of poor fishermen and their forcible displacement from their land and termed it an illegal act. He said attempts were being made to discredit the nation’s security forces by involving them in a land dispute issue.

Mr Shah vowed the fishermen would continue their struggle against the occupation of the land which had belonged to them since centuries till restoration of their rights. He also pointed out that the proposed city plan would have a negative impact on the livelihood of local fisherfolk communities.

He warned they would accept no project that was at the cost of the fisherfolk’s livelihood. He also regretted the ban imposed on night fishing in the project area which he said clearly exposed the designs of the government.

The PFF Secretary-General, Saeed Baloch, and President Karachi Chapter Majeed Motani also termed the decision sheer violation of human rights and vowed to continue the struggle till the acceptance of their demands.

Talking to newsmen, Mr Shah said the PFF would hold an all-party conference on December 20 to formulate a joint action plan to press upon the government to revise its decision.

He said the PFF would also give a strike call for December 24 after taking all political parties into confidence including nationalists and NGOs. This would be followed by a Grand Mahigeer Assembly to be held on December 30.