KHAIRPUR, July 18: More than 200 farmers, whose land lie at the tail-end of Ali Nawaz wah, Faiz Ganj taluka, staged a demonstration outside the press club of Pakka Chang on Tuesday to protest against irrigation officials they said were responsible for the acute shortage of water.

They also observed a hunger strike at the main chowk in Pakka Chang.

The protesters said that due to irrigation officials’ negligence and mismanagement their crops had not received enough water since last few months and if the situation persisted they might wither away.

They alleged that some influential landlords belonging to the ruling PML party had illegally stopped water near Channa fall of Ali Nawaz wah leaving too little water for the tail-end.

They warned that they would continue their hunger strike until the department supplied water to the tail-end.

SENATE ELECTIONS: Democratic Group won all the 12 seats beating Progressive Group in the elections for the senate of Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU) Khairpur on Monday.

Asad Shah Abidi, Prof Karim Dad Ujjan, Ghulam Qadir Nizamani, Ameer Chandio, Mohammad Massehullah Jatoi, Mohammad Ismail Soomro, Mureed Hussain Mahessar, Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur, Gulzar Ahmed Khoso, Mohammad Sharif Shaikh, Khalil Ahmed Ansari and Athar Nabi were declared successful.

HESCO: Parvez Ahmed Phulpoto, SDO Hesco Luqman sub-division, said in a briefing to reporters on Tuesday that 400 persons were found involved in stealing power during June-July 2006 campaign.

Some influential men were found using air-conditioners, which were not sanctioned by Hesco, he said adding that most of the power thieves were found in Therhi, Luqman, some parts of Khairpur city and nearby towns.

He said that the Hesco had sent official letters against the thieves to concerned police station but police had so far not filed any FIR against them.

INJURED: Unknown men armed with clubs attacked Hassan Abbas, brother of district president of Shia Rabita Committee, Ali Abbas, and injured him late Monday night.