THATTA: Plea to restore rights of fishermen

Published November 2, 2004

THATTA, Nov 1: People's Party Parliamentarians MPA Sassui Palijo has alleged that the Thar Rangers are denying Badin fishermen fishing rights and thereby violating the constitution and law.

She called on the government to restore legitimate fishing rights of the fishermen, release the arrested fishermen and take action against the Rangers personnel involved in the Bux Ali Mallah incident.

She was talking to newsmen at Palijo House here on Monday in the presence of a delegation of fishermen from Badin who had called on the MPA to apprise her of the alleged atrocities committed by the Rangers against them.

Ms Palijo said that 'usurpation' of fishing rights of fishermen by the law enforcement agency personnel in Badin would widen gulf between the rulers and the people.

The MPA said that on the one hand fishermen were not allowed to fish in the Badin waters and, on the other, they were arrested by the Indian naval forces when they fished in the deep sea.

She said that because of non-release of river water downstream Kotri and subsequent deterioration of the Indus delta, the fisher folk's source of livelihood had already shrunk.

She assured the fishermen of raising voice on the floor of the Sindh Assembly for their rights.

ROAD BLOCKED: Residents of Gharo blocked the National Highway on Monday by burning tyres in protest against rising theft incidents in the town. As a result, vehicular traffic was suspended for about one hour.