MIRPURKHAS, Sept 12: Activists of different NGOs and political parties staged demonstration outside the press club here on Friday, against illegal occupation of Old Tonga stand on Mirwah Road.

The activists were led by Asghar Narejo, Sarwan Kumar, and Dr Anand Kumar, of HRCP core group, Jeay Sindh Tahreek, Council for Under Privileged Segments Eminence and Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz.

Protesters carrying banners and placards raised slogans against the contractor and TMA Mirpurkhas as the contractor with connivance of TMA Mirpurkhas had occupied the land of the Tonga stand.Asghar Narejo, Sarwan Kumar and others alleged that the TMA Mirpurkhas had given free hand to land mafia to occupy government and non-government land in the city.

They alleged that the plot of old Tonga stand was occupied with the connivance of taluka nazim Mirpurkhas and now shopping centre was being constructed illegally on that plot. They said that earlier, Old Khipro bus stand, Old Hyderabad bus stand and land at Jarwari Shakh were also occupied by the land mafia.

They said that the civil society people had filed a case in the court of law against illegal construction on the plot of old Tonga stand and had also prayed for stay order.

They said that construction was going on despite stay order which was a violation of the court order. They demanded of the government and other authorities to stop construction work till the case was pending in the court.

GUTKA: International Human Rights Commission chief Muzammil Abbas Shirazi has expressed concern over inaction of government functionaries concerned regarding the illegal business of unhealthy gutka, mainpuri and narcotics dens in the Mirpurkhas.