KARACHI, Dec 8: The Sindh Assembly was on Monday informed that paramilitary Rangers were occupying a portion of the SESSI hospital in Hyderabad and would not be leaving unless the local administration provided them with an alternative premises.

Minister for Industries Mohammad Adil Siddiqui said this in his written reply to a question by PPP’s Farheen Mughal.

The assembly was informed that the Rangers had occupied the portion on Dec 31, 1998 without seeking a permission from the Sessi authorities. On May 5, 1999, the Rangers occupied OPD administration block and residential block, etc.

The institution had approached the DG of Pakistan Rangers in this connection and got the reply that the Rangers would move out when a suitable accommodation was made available to them.

In reply to a question by Ms Sharfunnisa of the PPP, the minister informed the House that spares and equipment worth about Rs1.5 million had been stolen from Dadu Sugar Mills. He said one of the accused in the case had been released on bail by a first class magistrate. He said the theft had actually taken place on March 8, just after midnight and one, Boota Khan, son of Niaz Ahmed Arain, and 11 others (unknown) were involved.

The minister said that the thieves ran away, leaving behind 10 bags of the stolen items, when police and security personnel opened fire.

An FIR of the incident was lodged on March 13 by Rukkan police in Dadu. Boota Khan was arrested after being identified by the watchman of the mills in the court of the civil judge, Dadu. However, the minister added, Boota Khan had been released on bail. The case is under investigation.

Responding to another question, the minister informed the House that Dadu Sugar Mill was closed since 1998-99 and the salaries of its employees could not be paid due to continuous losses sustained by the mills and non-availability of funds. However, two months salary, amounting to Rs11.387 million, had been paid to the mills’ employees on September 14.

He said that 82 employees opted for premature voluntary retirement scheme in 1999. Out of them, 70 employees were paid their dues while the rest were reinstated. He said that the mills, alongwith the Thatta Sugar Mill, was being privatized.

In reply to a question by Ayaz Soomro, the minister informed the House that affairs of the PIDC Sugar Mills, Naudero, Larkana district (now privatized) pertained to the federal government.