MITHI: A large number of villagers living in Thar coal field continued their protest against the mining companies’ alleged discrimination in jobs, their indifferent attitude towards the locals, alleged construction of a dam and other grievances on Wednesday.

The villagers staged a sit-in on the road leading to Block No 1 and 2 near village Tharyo Halepoto of Islamkot taluka for three hours, which resulted in suspension of vehicular traffic of the companies engaged in open-pit mining.

Talking to local journalists, Pir Ghulam Jan Sirhindi, Allah Bachayo Halepoto, Akbar Lunjo, Mohammed Saleem Noon and other leaders of the protesters criticised the companies for what they described as their violation of promises made with the locals before they started mining in the area.

They said that high-ups of the companies instead of giving even menial jobs of driver, peon, cook, etc, to the locals, were hiring people from other areas, including Punjab.

They added that dozens of landowners had not been paid compensation of their land acquired by the companies and the Sindh Coal Authority.

They vowed that they would never allow the company to construct any dam, which they said would force thousands of villagers to leave their abodes.

Speaking to Dawn, an official of the Sindh Engro Coal Mines, Farhan Ansari, claimed that all reservations of the villagers would be addressed and their genuine demands would be met.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2016

Opinion

Editorial

Qureshi returns
Updated 08 Jun, 2023

Qureshi returns

Powerbrokers fail to grasp that political legitimacy is drawn from public support and can only be contested through the democratic process.
Lawyer’s killing
08 Jun, 2023

Lawyer’s killing

THE shocking murder of Supreme Court lawyer Abdul Razzaq Shar on a Quetta thoroughfare on Tuesday raises a number of...
Infinite jest
08 Jun, 2023

Infinite jest

IF this government’s political record were to be described as dark comedy, its economic management would be a...
Rinse and repeat
Updated 07 Jun, 2023

Rinse and repeat

Pakistan's Groundhog Day politics continue without missing a beat.
Reimagining airports
07 Jun, 2023

Reimagining airports

AIRPORTS across the world have transformed themselves. No longer are they mere hubs for air travel; they now offer...
Transgender healthcare
07 Jun, 2023

Transgender healthcare

OUR social and political structures have sent the transgender population to Coventry. Anathema and misconception ...