DADU: A large number of families of daily-wagers threw caution to the wind as they broke all lockdown rules and gathered outside the residence of PPP MNA Rafiq Ahmed Jamali, demanding ration bags to end starvation in their homes.

The protesting men, women and their children who had come from Maz­doorabad, Jagatabad, Shah­ani Mohalla, Gharibabad, Chhano Shahabad, Markh­pur, Najam Colony, Pir Bux Colony, DC Colony, New Bus Stand and Old Bus Stand raised slogans against local administration for its failure to provide them ration bags as promised by the provincial government.

The protesters’ leader Shah Mohammad Gopang said that his children were starving because he could not earn a single rupee during the lockdown.

He was a labourer and he had been sitting idle at his home for the fourth day, he said.

Caution against coronavirus spread thrown to the wind

He said that he had no money to buy flour, pluses or vegetables for his seven-member family.

They had eaten all the food items they had and no one was ready to help them, he said.

He said the situation had become very disappointing at his home.

A widow, Lala Khatoon, complained that all essential food items were being black-marketed at grocery shops and Utility Stores in the city. She was very poor and had no money to purchase rice, pluses, flour and cooking oil for her 10-member family.

She said that none of the elected representatives, chairmen of union councils and district administration officials had extended her any help to buy ration.

Ghulam Mohammad, a daily-wager, complained that due to lockdown, he had not been able to earn anything as no one was ready to give him work as labourer. Hoarders were stocking up all food items with complete impunity and were black-marketing them at high prices.

He said that he had no food left at home to feed his seven family members.

Haji Khan said that uncertainty prevailed in the city and Pakistan Peoples Party leaders and officials of district administration were once again preparing to take undue advantage of the situation.

They were putting names of the party Jiyalas on the lists of the poor to give away ration bags to them, depriving the genuine deserving families of their right, he said, adding that no one was ready to help him and his family.

The protesters kept raising slogans at the bungalow’s gate in Bus Stand area for several hours before police and party leaders persuaded them to end the protest and go back home.

They informed the protesters that as soon as they received ration bags from Sindh government they would distribute them.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2020