KARACHI, July 7: A social movement aimed at safeguarding the rights of the fishermen community living along the coastline of Karachi was launched here on Saturday. Describing the fishermen as the original inhabitants of this city, it resolved to use all constitutional and legal methods to defend the rights to property, business, trade, employment and means of transport of the centuries-old deprived residents of Karachi.

Called `Karachi Sahili Makami Tehrik (KSMT)’, the launch of the movement was held at Yunisabad village in Hawkesbay. It was largely attended by community-based representatives of the Karachi coast besides Lyari, Malir, Bin Qasim and Gadap towns, who elected Abdullah Husain Haroon as its chairman.

At the outset of the declaration of the new movement, Husain Haroon narrated an analytical history of Karachi, saying that the city was originally a fishermen’s village and the land of the city belonged to the fishermen community whose ownership was even recognised by the British rulers, a fact that could be proved in a court of law.

However, he pointed out that the land of the natives had been usurped by the land mafia and builders with the connivance of functionaries of the Sindh and local governments and efforts were being made to turn the natives’ majority into a minority in their own land.

Saying that all constitutional and legal avenues would be used to protect the rights of the natives, Husain Haroon said the movement had decided to take up the issue of the Gutter Baghicha in a court of law. Subsequently other issues would also be taken to court.

Later, talking to newsmen, Mr Haroon explained the reasons for the establishment of the movement. He said the May 12 mayhem had created a sense of insecurity among the natives of Karachi and after consultation and interaction with various delegations representing a cross section of the local population, it was decided that a new social movement for protecting rights of the natives be launched.

In reply to newsmen’s questions, he said the movement would be social and it would use all constitutional and legal avenues to achieve its objectives.