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HYDERABAD, June 12: Over 12 trade unions of the Lakhra coal field affiliated with the Muttahida Labour Federation (MLF) on Monday held the Hesco officials of Jamshoro responsible for disruption in water supply to the coal field.
A joint meeting of the unions, presided over by Haji Zardar Khan, criticised what it termed the irresponsible attitude of Hesco officials and said workers were forced to drink contaminated water due to suspension of water supply.
The meeting alleged that the water supply system installed at a cost of Rs120 million was being sabotaged.
Speaking on the occasion, the MLF secretary-general and the leader of coalminers, Qamoos Gul Khattak, said the water supply had been started in 2005, whereas the Hesco authorities were preparing detection bills for the water supply which had been stopped in 2000.
He feared that this exercise of Hesco was aimed at sabotaging the new water supply system installed by the Sindh Workers Welfare Board.
He demanded that Federal Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi and Wapda chairman should order an impartial inquiry into the scandal and restore power supply to the water supply system.
REPORT: In May 2006, 1,474 human rights violations were reported in Sindh.
A report released by the Basic Rights Watch of the Indus Development Organisation here on Monday said 53.3 per cent human rights violations were related to officials and official organisations while 46.7 per cent to private individuals and organisations.
It said 59 per cent of the victims were men, 38 per cent women and 3 per cent organisations.
During the period under review, 273 murders and 50 robberies were committed while 26 kidnapping cases and 15 cases of rape were reported.
The report has named the irrigation department, police, Hesco, local government, health department, KESC, Sindh government and education department as violators of human rights.
The report said that 335 protest demonstrations were held in the province against human rights violations while 21 cases of suicide were reported.
It said that in violation of the orders of the court, six jirgas were held in the province during May.
