December 29, 2008	Monday	Zilhaj 30, 1429

SUKKUR, Dec 28: Delegates attending an All-Parties Conference and members of the Sukkur Small Traders Association took out a procession here on Saturday in protest against the illegal construction of high rises in the city, patronage of the builder mafia by influential people, dilapidated conditions of roads and breakdown of sewerage system.

Hundreds of participants of the rally gathered in front of Sajjad Plaza, which had collapsed on Dec 24. From there they marched through various streets and reached the Clock Tower where they staged a demonstration.

Addressing the protesters, traders’ leaders Sarwar Latif, Jawed Memon and local leaders of different political and religious parties said that Sukkur was the third largest city of Sindh but presented the look of Moenjodaro and the district and taluka administrations were responsible for it.

They said that all the streets and main roads were in a bad shape while the builders’ mafia was constructing multi-storey buildings in thickly populated areas without planning or abiding by building laws due to which more tragic incidents might take place.

They alleged that political leaders of Sukkur district were supporting the builders’ mafia, which had grabbed precious plots of the city and were selling the same at exorbitant rates.

They alleged that the builder mafia and relatives of political leaders were busy in constructing 22 high-rise buildings while the taluka municipal administration and officers of town planning had closed their eyes.

The protesters demanded compensation of Rs2 million each for the deceased and Rs500,000 each for the injured of Sajjad Plaza and drastic legal action against the responsible builder and taluka officers.

Meanwhile, activists of the Sunni Tehrik, Pakistan People’s Party and Sukkur Motor Works Association staged a demonstration at Clock Tower.

They said that substandard material was used in construction of Sajjad Plaza.