KARACHI, Oct 22: Various civil society organizations from all over the province condemning law enforcers for torturing fisher folk in Badin district demanded that those involved must be dealt sternly according to the law.

The demand was made in a joint statement issued on Friday by the Action aid Pakistan; the Pakistan Fisher folk Forum; the Indus Development Society, Larkana; the NGO's Coordination Committee, Khairpur; the Sindh Development Society, Hyderabad; the Shadabad Welfare Association, Dadu; the Awami Samaji Forum and the Bhandar Hari Sangat.

The representatives of these organizations criticized the personnel of law enforcement agencies for trespassing and torturing the fisher folk inside their houses in Badin. Terming the action a heinous crime against peaceful citizens, they said that the practice was totally in violation of the Constitution as well as civic rights and Islamic traditions.

They also expressed concern that the law enforcers were holding rights of public property, particularly in the fishing sector. They said that fishing ponds and lakes in Badin district were legally under the control of Sindh government, but, for the past many years paramilitary forces were enjoying full control over the public property.

It was demanded that the paramilitary forces should be restricted to borders and their intervention in civil matters must be immediately stopped. The civil society organizations welcomed the district government's order, under Section 144, banning the export of prawns and fish from the district.