Daily Times

KARACHI: Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum has started a four-day hunger strike at Karachi Press Club against the illegal occupation of more than 600 freshwater bodies and lakes of Sindh by Sindh fisheries minister and other influential feudal lords.

Hundreds of men and women were present in the hunger strike camp whereas the hunger strike was led by the PFF’s Chairperson Muhammad Ali Shah and other PFF activists. The protestors from fishing and peasants communities were chanting slogans against this illegal occupation of lakes and fresh water bodies.

Speaking on the occasion, the PFF Chief Muhammad Ali Shah said that PFF along with the fishermen of Sindh had been carrying out tireless and peaceful protest against this illegal occupation on 1209 fresh water bodies of Sindh since last decade. As a result of PFF years long struggle against this unlawful violation of human rights, Sindh Assembly amended Sindh Fisheries Act 1980 in 2011 declaring the occupation of freshwater bodies and lakes as illegal and called for an immediate end of contract system on all fresh water bodies and lakes in the province.

But unfortunately after the end of contract system on fresh water bodies in 2011, the current Sindh Fisheries Minister, feudal lords, land grabbers and others are once again controlling more than 600 lakes and fresh water bodies in Sindh unlawfully and are snatching away the bread and butter of the poor fishing community. Due to this the fishermen and their families are being displaced from their indigenous fishing grounds.

Mr. Shah further said that fishing is the only source of livelihood for these fishing communities after the occupation of these feudal lords; they have been reduced to deplorable living conditions. This way their right to livelihoods is utterly denied.

Shah demanded that the illegal and illegitimate occupation of Sindh Fisheries Minister and other land grabbers from Baabli Lakes in district Sujawal be immediately ended so that the indigenous fishermen can earn their living lawfully and freely. He also demanded that Sindh Fisheries Minister be immediately removed from his seat as a Minister and be arrested for along with Yameen Habib for kidnapping and torturing the leaders of fisherfolk community.

In the end Shah announced that if their demands are not met then thousands of fishermen will from every nook and corner of Sindh will gather outside the CM Sindh House and will continue their demands until these are met.

Published in Daily Times, January 23^rd 2018.