THATTA, June 20: Fishermen belonging to various wetlands of the district observed a black day on Tuesday in protest against harassment of protesters of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum by police in Karachi.

Hundreds of fishermen of the Keenjhar lake, Chilya, Sonehri, Khumbo, Keti Bunder, Aerki, Jhangisar, Thari Wari, Sajan Wari, Shah Bunder and Jati anchored their boats and hoisted black flags.

A gathering of fishermen was held at the PFF office in Thatta which condemned firing, shelling and baton charge on peaceful participants of the rally.

Speaking on the occasion, Awami Tehrik general secretary Qadir Ranto, PFF district president Gulab Shah, Hajan Solangi and Yar Mohammad Jalalani demanded that detained fishermen should be released and an inquiry into the incident be conducted.

They said that fishermen of Sindh were facing food insecurity, health hazards, natural and manmade disasters and aftermaths of consecutive catastrophes particularly in Thatta and Badin districts.

They said that it was injustice that now they were being deprived of their right to protest.

They said the fishermen should assess cooperation and sympathies extended by leaders of those political parties to whom they voted to power in past.

They said that fishermen should review their future political policies particularly in the context of oncoming general elections in the country.

The meeting adopted a resolution against the controversial water projects on the Indus river.