HYDERABAD, May 29: The Young Citizens Welfare Association of Goth Laloo Lashari village and other residents have demanded immediate construction of a primary school building.

They said in case of failure they will stage protest demonstration and will even file a writ petition in the Sindh High Court against the district government.

Haji Manthar Ali Jatoi, Haji Mohammad Zakaria Khan Lodhi, Ghulam Yasin Jatoi, Mubarak Ali Arbab and others, during a press conference at the press club on Tuesday said that Goth Laloo Lashari and its adjoining areas, including Sultan Shah Colony, Shah Latif Colony, Kali Mori, Islamia Colony had population of 30,000 people but not a single primary school could be established there, so far.

They said after lots of efforts they could succeed in getting approval for two buildings, one for boys and the other for girls’ primary schools in 2005. Construction work began but it stopped abruptly.

Tenders again were floated in 2006 but the order was not issued they said and added: “On our protest we were told that the soil was not fit for construction.” Upon laboratory test, soil was proved suitable for construction of building, speakers revealed.

They alleged that the district government refused to construct the school building and when they protested, a case was registered against them at the Cantonment police station which was still pending in the court.

Tenders were floated for third time in 2007 but construction stopped after spending about one million rupees, they said. On inquiry from nazim it was revealed that someone had claimed ownership of the plot.

The EDO revenue conducted an inquiry and submitted a report on April 30, 2007 which said the plot was free from all encumbrances, they said and regretted that even after all this construction could not resume.

They feared that funds would lapse and the contractor would take away the material if work was delayed.

They appealed to human rights organisations, political parties and social welfare bodies to help them in this regard. They further warned of staging demonstrations and considering filing a writ petition in the Sindh High Court.