KARACHI, Sept 8: Sindh Minister for Revenue and Political Affairs, Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh, has directed the District Coordination Officer to get the demolition of old villages stopped with immediate effect.

Taking serious note of demolition of old villages, Imtiaz Shaikh sent a letter to the DCO stating that he had received numerous complaints from the delegations from various villages and also written requests by certain villagers' associations against the 'illegal' demolition of villages by the city government. Such reports had also been published in newspapers, he added.

The minister stated that as a result of demolition, poor villagers were being rendered homeless that had caused resentment among general public. "The existing policy of the government is to facilitate the masses and alleviate their sufferings to the maximum possible extent.

As such, these kinds of actions by the city administration run counter to the government policy and thus needed to be stopped forthwith," he said. Imtiaz Shaikh said it would be appropriate to halt the demolition of villages in first instance. Simultaneously, the matter could be investigated to ascertain the factual position, he said.

The minister also called for convening a meeting of the relevant departments officials in the next week at his office to discuss these issues. He directed that further line of action should be adopted in the light of uniform policy, equity, justice and fairness. The copies of letter have also been sent to City Nazim Naimatullah Khan and other authorities concerned. -PPI