KARACHI, March 10: Karachi-based fishermen have alleged that they are being harassed and victimized by the fisheries officials of Balochistan while poaching in the Mekran coast.

The Fishermen Cooperative Society has received several applications from the fishermen regarding seizure of their boats by the provincial authorities.

Expressing concern over the situation, the representatives of the fishermen here said that at least three small boats had been seized by the authorities of Balochistan during the last three days.

Reacting to the renewed cases of seizure of boats in the Mekran coast, FCS directors Haji Mohammed Younus, Abuzar Mariwala, Haji Abdul Rauf and Ghulam Ali Mak alleged that the Balochistan fisheries’ officials were also demanding Rs30,000 for release of each boat after auctioning the fish catch worth over Rs0.1 million.

They said that the boats had been seized from the Churna island on the sea borders of the two provinces.