HYDERABAD: Activists of the Qaumi Awami Tehreek (QAT) held a demonstration here on Wednesday in protest against issuance of notices by the civil administration and irrigation department to people living near Indus River, declaring their abodes as encroachments.

The activists also staged a march from Qasimabad which culminated outside the local press club.

Addressing the protesters, QAT president Ayaz Latif Palijo said that instead of providing relief to people, the Sindh government was snatching their right to live. On one hand the government promised shelter to people while on the other, they were being evicted from their abodes.

He said that many localities and colonies were established along the Indus in Qasimabad area and their residents were now being evicted from there by the civil administration in collusion with builder mafia. He said the civil administration was giving a legal colour to that problem. He promised that his party was with the affected people and would always support them.

Mr Palijo said the QAT would not let their settlements be demolished and every legal and political path would be taken.

Speaking on the occasion, residents of Qasimabad Phase-2 and other areas said that they were living there for a long time. They said the Sindh government had not taken notice of it; they would not leave their settlements and they would resist any operation for their displacement.

They alleged that corrupt officials wanted to occupy land in collusion with builder mafia. They demanded of the Sindh government to take notice of their problem and withdraw notices for their eviction.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2019