KHAIRPUR, March 4: Khairpur Bachayo Committee, which comprises different political and social organisations, held rallies and demonstrations against taluka municipal administration and Sindh government on Sunday in protest against the sale of historical Dilshad Park.

The main procession commenced from the Phool Bagh and culminated at Dilshad Park.

MPA Nawab Wassan in his speech slated political victimisation, especially in Khairpur by the government which he said had begun some four years back and was continuing till date against nazims and naib nazims of the Awam Dost Panel and PPP workers.

The government had sold islands which actually were exclusive properties of Sindh, he said and added that the public property Khairpur were being auctioned and demolished, including Dilshad Park.

Criticising the role of district governments, Mr Wassan said that instead of resolving the problems of people, they were depriving them of their basic rights.

Leaders of PPP Samiullah Shah Rashdi and Amjad Shah Jilani were of the view that the demonstration organised by the APC had proven a `no confidence vote’ against the government.

Condemning the failure of TMA in providing basic facilities such as clean drinking water, proper drainage system, and streetlights, they held it responsible for making fake documents of public properties with the connivance of district administration.

JSQM district general secretary Fayaz Khamisani said that the sale of Dilshad Park was a conspiracy against people. He condemned the move of depriving Sindhis of their rights and selling their historical places.

PML-N District President Abdul Majeed Shaikh and leader of PML-N ladies wing Zeenat Shaikh announced their support to the Khairpur Bachayo Committee and promised to continue struggle to save the district.

The Peoples' Lawyers Forum president of Sukkur region Liaquat Shar said that the park had a historical connection with the romance of former Khairpur ruler Mir Ali Nawaz Naz with Iqbal Bano alias Baali Begum.

It was tragic that Baali who died in 1967 did not leave any heirs or a will and all her property was sold to a person who claimed to be her heir. He added that Dilshad Park had been providing drinking water for last 20 years to different colonies of the city. This in itself was a proof that the property belonged to the government.

He appealed to the Sindh High Court to take a suo moto notice of the matter in the interest of general public.

Meanwhile, Abdul Hafeez But who had claimed ownership of Dilshad Park said at a news conference that he wanted to donate the Park to district government and all formalities in this regard would be completed on Tuesday.

Flanked by District Nazim Pir Niaz Hussain Shah Jilani at the nazim’s residence Mr But said that he had made the decision of his free will and there was no pressure on him.