MITHI: The leaders of the recently formed Karoonjhar Sujag Forum as well as writers, poets and activists from across the province on Friday expressed their anger and indignation over the decision of the Sindh government to allow “conditional extraction or mining” from Karoonjhar hills in Parkar region of Tharparkar district.

Allah Rakhio Khoso, Zulfikar Ali Khoso, Ramesh Meghwar and other leaders of the forum in their joint press statement issued to local journalists announced that they would resist any move of the Pakistan Peoples Party government in Sindh to allow extraction from any point of the hilly areas.

They alleged that the Sindh government, due to “corporate greed”, was crossing all limits to satisfy their appetite for selling the land of Thar and other regions to companies.

The leaders deplored that despite their campaign to save the hills a few months back, the Sindh government instead of coming with some solid and permanent solution to protect the rich culture, heritage and beauty of the hills, was now eyeing the precious granite extraction to make money.

They described the announcement made by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to allow conditional extraction by issuing licenses or permits as a “cruel joke” with the area people and with those who loved the beautiful region.

They maintained that the best way to bring development to the region was to protect its various sites, natural habitat of the rare species and promote tourism in the region.

They said that best facilities should be provided to thousands of people, who usually thronged the area after rains every year.

They said that the so-called unconditional extraction and the subsequent building of factories would only bring disaster and devastation like the “factories of china clay, which are doing great damage in the area”.

The leaders also expressed their deep concern and anguish over the participation of the area MPA in the meeting on Thursday during which the chief minister of Sindh had announced the go-ahead for extraction and other projects.

They urged the PPP leadership to clarify their position and stop “harbouring such motives” otherwise they warned, that they would resume their protest not only in Parkar, but also in other parts of Sindh and throughout the country.

The prominent rights activists, including Syed Mohammad Ali Shah, Jami Chandio, Khalil Ahmed Bhurgari and others also expressed their dismay over the reported policy statement issued by Murad Ali Shah on the beautiful region of the province.

They asked the PPP leadership to “stop exploitation” of such sites and get rid of such intentions of earning money through the corporate mindset.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2020