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BADIN, Dec 7: Fishermen took out a rally here on Friday to protest against police failure to arrest the people involved in an attack on the members of their community. Five fishermen had sustained injuries in the attack which took place as a result of a dispute over right to fish in Dafri Lake.
Led by Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum Chairman Mohammad Ali Shah and former Badin taluka nazim Dr Musarrat Hussain Khowaja, the protesters marched from the Sabzi Mandi road and staged a sit-in on the National Highway for over 40 minutes, blocking vehicular traffic.
Speaking on the occasion, leaders of the fishermen alleged that Badin police were under the influence of the attackers and avoiding arrest of the accused.
They said the government had abolished contract system of fishing on the sweet waters and introduced the licence system, but some influential people in collusion with the district government were delaying the issuance of the licenses to the genuine fishermen at the Dafri lake and other sweet waters falling under the district government.
They alleged that such a delay would not only deprive the genuine fishermen of their legitimate right over fishing but was also creating an uneasy situation amongst the local fishermen and the so-called contractors were out to extend the contractual period for few more months which was unjustified.
In order to settle the dispute, a seven-member committee consisting of Abdul Salam Memon, Mohammad Mithan Mallah, Dr Musarrat Hussain Khowaja, Nabi Bux Mallah, Ghulam Rasool, Umer Mallah and Sajjan Mallah was also formed.
The committee presented a three point demand to the DPO of Badin which included immediate arrest of the accused, protection of rights of fishermen for fishing on sweet waters under the licence system and release of all fishermen implicated and arrested in fictitious cases. They warned to expand the drive in case their demands were not met.
ROBBERY: A gang of six robbers blocked the Karachi-Badin highway near Golarchi at Miyano water stop and looted a marriage party and fled.
According to reports, a marriage party of Chandio tribe left for Karachi from Sadiq Chandio Village, Shaheed Fazil Rahu taluka, at about 2.30am on Friday. When it reached at Miyano water bus stop, the bandits stopped their vehicles on gun point.
The male members of the marriage party resisted the bandits when they started snatching jewellery from the women forcing the bandits to flee. While fleeing, the bandits opened fire as a result six people were injured.
