GWADAR: A large number of people from the coastal community on Friday took out a procession in this port city to press the government to protect their rights while constructing the Gwadar East-bay expressway that the fishermen said would affect their livelihood.

A large number of fishermen, women activists, workers of different political parties and civil society members took part in the protest, which was organised by an alliance of fishing community.

Holding banners and placards inscribed with their demands, the protesters marched from Dhoria, a settlement of the fishing community, to the main roads. They chanted slogans in favour of their demands.

They believe construction of a major highway will adversely affect their lives

Leaders of Fishermen Alliance Khuda Dad Wajo, Malik Khuda Bakhsh, Rais Akbar Ali, Rasool Bakhsh, Faiz Nagori, Gwadar district presidents of the National Party and Balochistan National Party-Mengal and Begum Allah Bakhsh a female leader while addressing the participants expressed their apprehension about the construction of the expressway.

They said that it would affect fishing on the eastern coast of Gwadar. The authorities concerned had not taken steps to remove their apprehension regarding their centuries-old livelihood. “Fishing is their only source of earning money,” they said, adding that it was their constitutional right to protect their livelihoods.

They vowed to continue their peaceful struggle till their demands were accepted.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2018