HYDERABAD, Sept 21: Leaders of different political parties and social welfare organisations have strongly protested against the apathy of the Sindh government to protect the livelihood of two million fishermen of Sindh and resolved to retrieve the possession of all fresh water resources of the province from influential persons by launching a joint and consistent struggle.

They were speaking at a consultative meeting sponsored by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum at a hotel here on Saturday night on the rights of the fishermen on the fresh water resources and government policy.

Reminding the democratic government of its promises, the speakers said that despite tall claims, the government had failed to retrieve the possession of fresh water resources of Sindh from the waderas.

Speaking on the occasion, the chairman of the Forum, Syed Mohammad Ali Shah, president Awami Tehrik, Qadir Ranto, PPP leader, Comrade Jam Saqi, STP leader, Dr Hameed Memon, Ayub Shar of SNF, MPA Farheen Mughal, Ayaz Latif Palijo advocate and others said that all the fresh water resources of the province were the property of fishermen.

They said that to deprive the fishermen of their right to catch fish in the fresh waters amounted to depriving them of their only source of livelihood which was a flagrant violation of the constitution, law and fundamental human rights.

Influential waderas, mostly belonging to ruling party, have occupied the fresh water resources of Sindh and they were committing inhuman atrocities against the fishermen, the speakers said.

They said that along with the masses, the fishermen had also rendered tremendous sacrifices to bring PPP into power. They said despite promises by the exponent of democracy and human rights, they had taken no steps to restore the rights of fishermen during the last six months. So much so, they said that even the licenses of fishermen had been cancelled.

They pointed out that the Sindh minister for fisheries had announced to issue Benazir Bhutto cards to the fishermen for catching fish but this announcement had not been translated into a reality. They demanded announcement of a comprehensive fishing policy in consultation with the fishermen.

The gathering adopted several resolutions demanding that the rights of the fishermen to catch fish in 1209 fresh water resources of the province should be acknowledged, the possession of fresh water resources should be retrieved from them and legal action should also be taken against them.

The gathering also announced to launch a joint struggle for the rights of fishermen.

PEACE DAY RALLY: A large number of people took out a procession from Benazir Bhutto chowk in Qasimabad and went to the Hyderabad press club here on Sunday to mark the International Peace Day.