BADIN, May 18: Hundreds of fishermen of the coastal belt protested against auction of different wetlands in Badin district on Wednesday. Led by Mithan Mallah, president of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, Badin district, and Nawaz Khatti, a large number of fishermen, including 500 womenfolk and families of fishermen, marched on the main thoroughfares and reached the offices of the fisheries department.

They were raising slogans against auction of the wetlands by the fisheries department and condemning the adviser to the chief minister on fisheries affairs.

Later, the protesters staged a sit-in at the fisheries office and civil hospital road, blocking the vehicular traffic for over three hours. Speaking on the occasion, the fisher folk representatives warned that if the wetlands were auctioned, they would not allow any contractor to carry out business in the coastal area waters.

They warned if government failed to abolish the contract system, they would raise the issue in Islamabad by holding demonstrations there.

They also demanded release of Mohammad Ali Shah and others. During the protest, the fisheries officials closed the doors of their offices and auctioned the contract of fishing waters as per schedule.

The assistant director fisheries told Dawn on phone that they were bound to implement orders of the government for auctioning the contracts.