DAWN.COM

Today's Paper | December 01, 2024

Published 08 Jun, 2008 12:00am

NAWABSHAH: Drivers block highway in protest against police

NAWABSHAH, June 7: Hundreds of truck and trailer drivers blocked the National Highway in protest against Qazi Ahmed police for beating up a driver on Saturday. They parked their vehicles on both sides of the highway at Karimabad near Doulatpur.

They told reporters that the ASI Abdul Sattar Mallah of Qazi Ahmed police station stopped a trailer (JU-4365) when it crossed a police mobile, thrashed its driver Mohammed Yousuf and snatched from him Rs20,000 cash and a mobile phone. They said police excess against drivers was increasing with full immunity.

Officials of Motorway and Qazi Ahmed police reached the spot and held negotiations with them. They refused to end the blockade until action against police officials was not initiated.

The SPO Doulatpur, Ramzan when contacted expressed his ignorance about the incident and denied blocking of the highway. Commuters travelling towards Punjab and Karachi faced difficulties due to traffic jam for more than two hours.

Later, the SPO Doulatpur reached there and assured protesters of justice on which the road was reopened to traffic.

LAC: The Lawyers Action Committee Nawabshah has appealed to Chief of the Army Staff to reverse November 3 actions and help in removing difference between the Army and public.

In a press statement on Saturday, President Sindh Lawyers Action Committee Syed Hassan Tariq advocate urged the COAS to take back November 3, actions which will automatically reinstate judiciary, including the Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Choudhry. He said the nation will pay tribute and support Army. He expressed the hope that the Army would foil all conspiracies against the country with the support of the nation.

RALLY: Dozens of growers of Jheemal minor here on Saturday continued token hunger strike, took out a rally, and demonstrated outside the press club on fourth consecutive day to protest non-availability of water.

The rally started from Gajrah wah at Sanghar Road and after passing through main roads culminated at the press club. Protesters carrying banners and placards raised slogans demanding water to their minor. Protesting growers told reporters that 4,000 acres of land with 22 watercourses at Jheemal minor had no water since months.

They said that sowing of cotton had been badly affected and their families were starving. They said that they had requested executive engineer Nusrat Irrigation Division several times for water supply to their canal but in vain.

They alleged the officials of Nusrat Irrigation Division were selling water to influential landlords of Gajrah wah. District President PPP and MPA, Ghulam Qadir Chandio reached there and held negotiations with the protesters.

The MPA spoke to irrigation authorities and assured to resolve growers’ problems on which they ended the strike.

Read Comments

EASA lifts ban on PIA for flights to Europe: Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif Next Story