THATTA, June 23: Hundreds of fishermen on Wednesday held a sit-in outside the Chilya fish hatchery against the auction of fishing rights in the Keenjhar lake. They carried banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the auction.

They also raised slogans against the theft of fishing nets. Speaking on the occasion, Adam Gandaro, Bachoo Khaskheli, Aslam Mirbahar and Ayub Mallah said that the fishermen of the Keenjhar lake were passing through trying situations due to declining fish catch and extinction of some local species.

They said that the usurpation of their rights by vested interests and non-release of fish seeds in the lake for the last couple of years had affected their only source of livelihood. They demanded that they should be provided with loans and other facilities.

MPA: MPA Imtiaz Shirazi has appealed to President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali to help release six fishermen of the Thatta district from the Indian jail.