DADU, Nov 13: Zakat funds of Rs190 million, lying in banks since January, were not distributed among 20,000 registered deserving people in the district before Eidul Fitr due to apathy of the local Zakat officials.

This was said by a group of affected widows and students and social workers while talking to newsmen after holding a protest demonstration here on Saturday.

They said that the committees of other districts had distributed Zakat before Eid but Zakat was not distributed in Dadu district.

They regretted that the chairman of the Dadu District Zakat Committee had not nominated chairmen of committees of 441 dehs and members of taluka and district committees, hence, thousands of poor people had been deprived of subsistence allowance and students of scholarships.

They said that only first instalment of Rs60 million had been distributed and three instalments had not been distributed as yet. They appealed to President Gen Pervez Musharraf to intervene and ensure early distribution of Zakat in Dadu district.

WATER PROJECTS: The federal government was trying to destroy agriculture-based economy of rural Sindh by constructing the Kalabagh dam and Greater Thal canal and people of Sindh will continue struggle against the projects.

This was said by general secretary of Pakistan Oppressed Nations' Movement Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah while talking to newsmen in Sann on Saturday.

He said that Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim was opposing construction of Kalabagh dam and Greater Thal canal.

He said that the PONM would continue struggle for restoration of democracy.

ROBBERY: Five unidentified armed robbers looted thousands of rupees in cash, gold ornaments and other valuable items from the passengers of a Dadu-bound passenger coach in the Sann area on Friday.

Meanwhile, a boy, Yaseen, 8, was crushed to death under the wheels of a tractor in Piaro Goth on Saturday.

DISABLED: The Sindh Disabled Welfare Association observed World Disabled Day here on Friday.

A number of disabled persons took out a procession on wheel chairs and marched on different roads and streets of the city.

Speaking on the occasion, Nazeer Ahmed Solangi, Rukhsana Gopang and others demanded job quota for disabled people in government institutions and multinational companies.

EDO: Activists of the Pakistan Muslim League's youth wing held a demonstration outside the press club here the other day to protest against the transfer of the EDO, health, Dr Maula Bux Jamali.

They were led by the district president of the youth wing, Khalil Ahmad Ghalloo.

Talking to the protesters, Mr Ghalloo demanded that the transfer order of the EDO should be withdrawn.

JIRGA: A jirga was held at an Autaq of People's Party Parliamentarians MNA Rafiq Ahmad Jamali here the other day to resolve a dispute between Hesco officials and relatives of a teacher who had died of electric shock three months ago.

The relatives of the teacher, Azeem Shah, had lodged an FIR against Hesco Dadu sub-division-II SDO Irshad Ahmad Memon, line superintendent Mujeeb Qureshi and linemen Abdul Rahim Gopang and Ashiq Mallah.

Dadu Taluka Nazim Syed Zafar Ali Shah, district secondary education officer Syed Rasool Bux Shah, Syed Bachal Shah and Imam Ali Shah participated in the jirga from the complainant side and MNA Jamali and local Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Union chairman Warial Mirani represented the Hesco officials.

The jirga decided that the Hesco officials would pay Rs150,000 to the relatives of the teacher and also seek pardon from them after which the case against the officials would be withdrawn.