KHAIRPUR, March 1: An All Parties Conference (APC), held under the aegis of Pakistan People’s Party, Khairpur, on Thursday decided to form “Khairpur Bachayo Committee” for protection of state properties and historical places of Khairpur.

Speaking on the occasion, Khuda Bux Phulpoto, said that there are many historical and public places, including Kotdiji fort, Garhi Pul, Mumtaz ground, Phool Bagh, Dilshad park and old court building in the district.

He demanded that these historical places should be given under the control of the federal government because the provincial and the district governments have miserably failed to protect these places. He apprehended that these places would also be sold out like Dilshad Park.

Umed Ali Jumani, an educationist said that when Khairpur state was merged into Pakistan in December 1954, it was clearly stated in the merger agreement that none of the state/public properties would be sold or rented out but one can see what happened to Dilshad Park.

Abdullah Abbasi of (JUI) said that a joint protest rally should be taken out to create awareness among the people to protect Dilshad Park and other public properties.

Comrade Shahbaz Dino of the Muttahida Mazdoor Federation, said that a common platform of “Khairpur Bachayo” should be formed and added that the labourers would support the decisions of APC.

Fayaz Khamisani of the JSQM said that the purchasers of Dilshad Park were non-locals, who belonged to Punjab. Samiullah Shah Rashidi and Amjad Shah Jilani of PPP said that district government as well as the taluka municipal administration of Khairpur had completely failed to protect Dilshad Park.

They said that the TMA withdrew from ownership claim on the Park in the court and carried out its beautification by spending Rs500,000 on it.

They said that building of police station B-section has also been sold to some influential people belonging to the ruling party.

Maula Bux Larik, Secretary of the Sachal Yadgar Committee, said that during Khairpur state era, there was a children park but during General Zia's tenure, a shopping centre was constructed in its place.

He added that Lady Willington Hospital locality was also state property but its surrounding area was encroached.

He further added that one of the oldest and famous parks of Khairpur, Phool Bagh, was also a state property but some offices were constructed within its premises.

Liaquat Shar, President of People’s Lawyers Forum, Sukkur region, said that a petition from platform of APC should be moved in the Sindh High Court through which an undertaking should be sought from the district government and district administration of Khairpur that they would not sell any state or public properties.

He added that the district government and district administration should also be asked through the court to provide

details of all the current state and public properties in Khairpur.

Awami Tehrik's Zulfiqar Phulpoto, Azhar Buledi, Manzoor Larik of human rights commission, PML-N's Noor Hassan Chandio, Ghazala Siyal of PPP ladies wing, Dadan Phulpoto of rickshaw union, nazim of UC Shah Latif, Bakht Ali Dahote, nazim of UC Bukhari, Saleh Ansari, Awami National Party's Gul Khan, Samar Abbas Warsi of the Sunni Tehrik and others attended the APC.