MITHI: The leaders of Sindh United Party have rejected Sindh government’s permission for extraction of precious stones from Kharsar area in Parkar region and contended that all big and small hills formed part of the historical Karoonjhar hills from which any amount of extraction and quarrying was banned under court orders.

Syed Zain Shah, president of SUP, said at a press conference at Thar Press Club here on Thursday that his party demanded cancellation of all leases and permits issued by successive provincial governments for the extraction of precious granite stones and gravel from Kharsar area.

“All the big and small hills comprise the historical Karoonjhar hills and any damage to any one of the hills will be resisted by the people of Sindh,” he warned.

He said that it was Sindh rulers’ responsibility to protect all the hills and their ecology and an effective step towards this objective was to have the entire region included in World Heritage Sites.

Roshan Buriro and Ameer Azad Panhwar, SUP leaders, vowed to foil rulers’ attempt to damage the hills and said that all 106 places identified in one of the verdicts of Sindh High Court must be protected and preserved in the light of the court’s orders.

Ghansham Malhi of Sindh Taraqqi-pasand Party, advocate Shahnawaz Hingorjo of Qaumi Awami Party, Irshad Kumbhar of Thar Sujag Forum, Pashutam Soorni of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and other leaders also addressed the press conference and assured SUP leaders of their complete support in their efforts for saving Karoonjhar hills from further damage.

They resolved unanimously to save the hills from extraction and quarrying.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2024