DADU: Tension gripped the hilly Karo Koat area in the west of Dadu district on Saturday when several tribal chieftains, including former federal minister Sardar Yar Mohammed Rind, ratcheted up their “struggle for the rights of local population” and the area police called out Rangers personnel to help them avert a possible showdown.

The Sindh home department issued an order for the detention of Sardar Yar Mohammed Rind and his son Sardar Khan Rind for three months late on Friday evening when negotiations between the Rind and Rustamani tribes on the one side and Hyderabad DIG Dr Sanaullah Abbasi and SSP Irfan Baloch on the other failed to reach an accord.

The strength of around 800 tribesmen besieging the Karo Koat base camp and fields of the Polish oil and gas exploration firm rose to around 1,200 on Saturday. The tribesmen blocked food, water and other supplies to the firm’s staff and field workers about a week ago and the DIG leading a strong police force succeeded in restoring the supplies on Saturday evening.

In the meantime, Rangers personnel rushed to the area to assist the area police in averting violence over the issue.

It was gathered that Dadu Deputy Commissioner Nasir Abbas Soomro approached the home department for the issuance of the detention order after the firm complained that Sardar Yar Mohammed Rind and his son Sardar Khan Rind along with some other tribal leaders had been demanding protection money.

However, the tribal leaders say they were seeking royalty against exploration of oil and gas in the area, compensation for the lands being used and jobs for local people in the company. The district administration said the detention of the tribal leaders was issued under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law.

Reports from the area suggested that the protesters belonged to the Rind, Rustamani and Malookani tribes, who are led by Sardar Yar Mohammed Rind, Khair Mohammad Malookhani and Arbab Rustmani, respectively.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, Sardar Yar Mohammed Khan Rind apprehended that he might be arrested or even killed, and vowed to continue the struggle for the local people’s rights. He noted that the detention order had been issued by the Sindh government, and alleged that the people associated with the ruling party were eyeing the lands with rich natural resources.

A senior executive of the oil firm, speaking to Dawn on Saturday, claimed that his company was taking due care of the local population and also recruiting local tribesmen. He confirmed that adequate security had now been provided to the foreign and local staff and workers of the firm by police and Rangers personnel.

Meanwhile, MPA Liaquat Ali Jatoi, a former chief minister of Sindh, expressed his full support for the protesting tribesmen.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Mr Jatoi urged the authorities concerned to accept the tribesmen’s demands and constitute an inquiry into “misappropriation of billions of rupees released by the multinational companies working in the area for the welfare of the local population”. He alleged that officials of the district administration had misappropriated the funds.

Dadu SSP

Hyderabad SSP Irfan Baloch was given the additional charge of Dadu SSP a few days ago to tackle the issue of week-long blockade. Speaking to Dawn on Saturday, SSP Rukhsar Ahmed Khuhawar said he was forced to relinquish the charge.

Activists of various civil society organisations enforced a strike in Dadu town on Saturday against the the SSP’s removal. Leading a demonstration, an activist, Mr Habibullah, claimed that SSP Khuhawar was sidelined when he refused to use force against the protesting tribesmen. It was, however, officially stated that SSP Khuhawar had gone on a five-day leave.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2015

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