QUETTA, June 20: Hundreds of fishermen demonstrated in Lasbela’s Winder area on Wednesday against the proposed construction of Sonmiani port which, they claimed, would deprive the local population of their legitimate rights.

The protesters marched on various roads carrying banners and placards and chanted slogans against the project. They urged the government to first ensure the rights of the local people.

The protesters gathered at the main chowk of the Winder bazaar where leaders of the Fishermen Alliance, including Mullah Mohammad, Abdul Sattar Angaria, Saleem Baloch, Yaqoob Sasoli, Sadiq Lasi and Essa Khaskheli addressed them.

The alliance leaders said they weren’t opposed to the development process itself but were against any development plan that would deprive the local people of their legitimate rights.

“Construction of Sonmiani port is part of the Jinnahpur plan prepared by the MQM,” they said.