Fishermen threaten protest drive across Sindh

Tuesday, December 23, 2008
By our correspondent

HYDERABAD: The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) on Monday announced to launch a protest campaign across Sindh from Dec 29 if the provincial government failed to resolve the problems and concerns of the fishermen.

Addressing a news conference at the Hyderabad press club, PFF office-bearers Ghulam Mustafa Mirani, Ayub Shah, Fiza Qureshi and others said despite the announcement of the Fisheries minister the Benazir cards have not been issued to the fishermen of the province for the last 10 months.

They said the Forest Department of Sindh has imposed a contract system on 30 lakes though the system was abolished due to the PFF struggle.They demanded that illegal occupation of lakes should be ended and arrested fishermen should be released forthwith otherwise a protest campaign would be launched from Dec 29 and protest demonstrations would be staged across the province and finally a long march up to the Sindh Assembly would be carried out.

Saeed Baloch