DADU, Oct 12: The Jamshoro district council on Wednesday passed a resolution calling upon the federal government to rescind its decision to lease out two islands near Karachi to a foreign company.

The council’s session presided over by District Naib Nazim Abdul Hameed Buledi was held at the SDA office near Jamshoro Toll Plaza.

The resolution tabled by Roshan Buriro said that the two islands were Sindh’s property and termed the lease a part of conspiracy aimed at converting locals into a minority.

Mr Buledi said that foreigners and illegal immigrants would be settled on the islands and the coastal belt after displacing the indigenous fishermen living there for centuries.

Imam Bux Chehwan defended the government’s decision and said it would increase the business and trade opportunities.

The council passed the resolution with an overwhelming majority.

The council unanimously adopted another resolution tabled by Mr Chehwan demanding that late Bugti’s killers be arrested and tried in court.

Shabana Yamin complained that the sewing machines the district government had purchased for distribution among poor women were substandard.

The convener formed a committee comprising four council members to look into the complaint and submit a report to the council.

A motion by Khadim Jamali demanded action against the land mafia which he said had occupied government lands in Khuda Ji Basti and other areas in the district.

In reply, EDO (revenue) Ghulam Akbar Leghari said that he had taken action against revenue officials and land mafia while admitting that the land grabbers had occupied pieces of land in Thano Bula Khan, Kotri, Sehwan and Manjhand talukas and it required a major operation to get them vacated.

He said that he had registered FIRs against 27 revenue officials and got 20,000 acres of land vacated.