HYDERABAD: Several hundred people living along the dykes of Phulelli canal took to the streets and held a demonstration at a section of the National Highway near the central jail against legal notices asking them to vacate their houses to facilitate their demolition.

Charged youths among them bloc­k­ed the arterial road for about two hours and lit bonfires to vent their anger.

The notices were issued to the occupants of illegally raised houses and other structures in Islamia Colony, Khursheed Colony, Ghumanabad and several settlements including Lalu Lashari.

Leading the protesters, Feroze Arain, Allah Bux Mallah, Majeed Sari­wal and others said they had been living in these localities for years.

They argued that electricity, water and gas utilities had provided them connections after legal process while sewerage system was also there, still their houses were being regarded as illegal and they were being asked to vacate them. “We have paid the cost of our properties and several of them have even been registered as well,” they added.

They complained that the district administration had resorted to launching a demolition campaign to destroy their settlements although their case was pending adjudication with the Sindh High Court.

They said the district administration should wait for the Feb 20 hearing of the case.

Hyderabad Assistant Commissioner Sajjad Abro held talks with the protesters and persuaded them to end their agitation. He asked them to visit him and the deputy commissioner in the latter’s office on Tuesday (today).

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2018