THATTA, Oct 27: Expressing deep concern over frequent theft of fish plates from railways track and engraved stones from historical sites, the PPP MPA Humera Alwani urged the Sindh Chief Minister and authorities concerned to help in protecting national heritage. She also took notice of excavation at different sites.

Talking to journalists in Makli, the MPA contended that in the last two years over a dozen incidents involving theft of railways material, near Jungshahi and other stations were reported from Thatta district.

Although, many FIRs had been registered but the practice goes unabated, she said.

Similarly, many historical sites were facing the same situation as powerful people frequently detach hand-carved stones inscribed with Quranic verses and important heritage marks and inscriptions from mausoleums and graveyards of Thatta, she said.

Theft cases from Sonda and Makli necropolises and Bhambhore ruins were often reported to police but without any results as influential are in the habit of decorating their homes with theses artefacts, the MPA complained.

She recalled that some few years ago, one of the then deputy commissioners of Thatta had put two such slabs on the staircase of his Makli office but on publication of photos and stories in newspapers, these were returned to Makli necropolis.

Ms Humera also criticised excavation of reti and bajri along the railways track, installation of gas control station near Dhabeji.

The MPA suggested that adequate protective measure were required to protect national installations in Thatta.

She asked the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and relevant authorities to take notice of it and take the responsibility of protecting national installations.

JSQM chief acquitted: The court of additional sessions judge Thatta, on Monday acquitted the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz Chairman Bashir Khan Qureshi and 17 other party activists in a sedition case registered against them at Daro police station.

Mr Qureshi, JSQM Secretary General Dr Niaz Kalani, Thatta District President Aslam Khairpuri, Suleman Palijo, Dewan Gangaram and others were booked by Daro police in 2002 for delivering anti-state speeches at a public gathering organised to commemorate Thori Phatak carnage and pay homage to departed souls.

Mr Qureshi while talking to reporters said that he and his party activists were implicated in fictitious and fabricated cases to hold them back from the national struggle but this would not restrain them from fighting for the legitimate rights of Sindh and its people.