Govt may write off Thar growers’ loans: minister
MITHI, Jan 24: The provincial minister for agriculture, Syed Ali Nawaz Shah, said that since the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) came into power with a heavy mandate, it was its first and foremost responsibility to make all out efforts for the redressal of the grievances of the people without any discrimination.
Speaking at an open katchehry outside Gymkhana here on Saturday, Shah said that as Thar had already been declared a calamity-hit area, relief measures would be launched soon here and jobs would be provided to the jobless Tharis on merit.
Taking notice of a complaint by MNA Mahesh Kumar Malani, the minister directed the officials of ZTBL Mithi not to press the farmers of Thar for recovery of agricultural loan. He said that he would talk to the relevant authorities at the federal level to write off the loans in question.
He said that he had spent ten years with late Z. A. Bhutto and thirty years with Benazir Bhutto in the struggle for democracy and he would welcome positive criticism for the welfare of the masses.
Speaking on the occasion, MNA Mahesh Kumar said that some vested interests were making false propaganda against the PPP government; however, the present government would complete its tenure and hoped that the next Senate chairman would be from the PPP.
People at the open katchehry demanded of the minister to take steps for the provision of wheat flour on subsidised rates, reduction in bus fares and uninterrupted water supply to Mithi. He directed the district administration for resolution of the problems.
POLICE EXCESSES: Residents of Janjhiar village, Mithi village, staged a demonstration in front of the local press club on Saturday to protest the alleged excesses of the excise police.
The personnel of the excise police had allegedly forced their way into the house of a villager, Mohan Meghwar, misbehaved with women and had manhandled Meghwar who as a result had to be admitted to Civil Hospital Mithi.
The protesters, carrying banners and placards, urged the relevant authorities to initiate action against the accused excise personnel whom they accused of unleashing a reign of terror and harassment in Tharparkar.
Talking to reporters over the telephone, Sindh Excise Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla said that an inquiry into the incident was under way and action would be taken against those found involved.
Meanwhile, a delegation of the District Bar Association Tharparkar, led by its president Mathradas, Bhooromal and others called on Mohan Meghwar in civil hospital to inquire after his health. They announced to fight his case free of cost.