KARACHI, Jan 24: Two organisations representing the fishermen communities, the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum and the Pakistan Mahigeer Tehrik, which have been spearheading a campaign against the projected development of two islands off Karachi coast, have dismissed the findings of a fact-finding committee headed by an adviser to the Sindh chief minister.

They have also rejected the committee’s idea of convening a round-table conference on the issue, and stressed on the setting up of an independent committee to look into the affair and study the possible impact of the proposed mega project on environment and fishermen’s livelihood. They described the adviser’s recent visit to the islands as ‘an eye-wash’. They also took exception to the inclusion of some directors of the Fishermen Cooperative Society in the committee.

Chairman of the PFF Mohammad Ali Shah claimed that the proposal of holding the round-table conference was part of the government’s strategy to neutralise the fishermen’s campaign against the controversial project. He reiterated the PFF stand that the islands belonged to the fishermen communities and the government had no right to sell them off or lease them out without their consent.

He also contested the government’s argument that developing modern cities along the coastline would open up fresh avenues of progress. On the contrary, he rebutted, this was bound to deprive fishermen communities of their livelihood and add to the environmental degradation. He called for the shelving of the islands project, making it clear that the fishermen communities would not compromise on their livelihood.

Mr Shah, vowing to continue the struggle until success, said that the islands were the local fishermen’s natural source of livelihood and it was the responsibility of the state to protect the same.

Chairperson of the PMT Ms Zubaida Birwani also termed the visit to the islands by the government committee ‘a public relationship exercise aimed at hoodwinking people’.

Referring to the inclusion of certain elected FCS directors in the committee, she claimed it was an attempt on the part of the government to portray the committee as a representative body. However, she added, the government failed to achieve its objectives.

She said that the FCS had no role to play in the matter, and claimed that the government had just tried to use it as a tool.

She pointed out no civil society organisation opposing the project had been invited to express its views during the so-called fact-finding exercise, adding that this had made the government’s designs quite clear.

Ms Birwani deplored that government functionaries were complicating the matter by giving conflicting statements on the Islands issue.