Relatives of dead hunger striker resume protest

KARACHI: Over 50 villagers of a Sanghar district village, who had returned to their homes last week after they were assured by the government that their issues would be resolved, came back on Monday and went on hunger strike outside the press club.

A large number of residents of Mohammad Essa Khaskheli village in Sanghar after being harassed allegedly by a local influential, who, they claimed, had wanted to evict them from their lands, had arrived in the city many days ago and had gone on a hunger strike. The villagers wanted that their village be leased out to them.

One of the protesters, Walidad Khaskheli, who was on a hunger strike, had died last week due to cardiac arrest outside the Karachi Press Club.

After his death Sindh Minister Shazia Marri and Tauqeer Fatima visited their camp and announced compensation of Rs100,000, and ordered arrest of the culprits and leasing of their village within a week.

However, after passage of a week, the protesting villagers said that neither they had been paid the compensation, nor those nominated in an FIR were arrested, nor their village had been leased.

They said that they had returned to the city and had gone on a hunger strike because none of the promises made to them by the ministers were fulfilled.

They criticised the government and its ministers for making ‘false promises.’

The protesters are: Madad Ali, Ali Dino, Loond Khan, Anwer Ali, Maula Bux, Ahsan, Qurban, Ghulam Rasool, Ghulam Ali, Ms Saleemat, Ms Hakimzadi, Ms Fatima and others.

Water shortage hits cotton and chili sowing

MIRPURKHAS: Persisting water shortage has adversely affected the owing of cotton and chili crops at the tail-end of Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Tharparkar districts.

According to an irrigation official, 9,600 cusecs water is being supplied at the head of Nara Canal against its demand of 16,000 cusecs. Owing to the shortage, water rotation programme in Jamrao, Mithrao and Thar divisions of irrigation department is being strictly implemented to ensure access of water to the tail-end of the canals.

However, reports said that over 100 channels in the command area of Nara Canal were lying dry after the rotation programme. Nara Canal fed by Sukkur Barrage supplies water to Sukkur, Khairpur, Sanghar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas and Tharparkar districts.

Sindh Farmer Organisations’ Council chairman Javed Junejo and vice- president of the Sindh Abadgar Board, Mirpurkhas chapter, Haji Abdul Ghafoor Maher regretted that due to shortage of water in Nara Canal, tail-end districts were adversely affected as abadgars failed to sow cotton and chilli crops in Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Tharparkar due to the scarcity.

If these crops were not sown on time, their production would be reduced, they said, adding that water shortage had also hit sugarcane, onion, vegetables crops.

Adversely affected areas include Jhillori, Kot Ghulam Mohammad, Khaan, Patoyoon, Phuladiyoon, Sindhri, Pithoro, Umerkot, Chhore, Samaro, Kunri, Kot Ghulam Mohammad, Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Tando Jan Mohammad, Jhuddo, Naukot and Kaloi.

They demanded that the government should ensure required supply of water in Nara canal and ensure timely sowing of seasonal crops.

Our Umerkot correspondent adds: Growers of Umerkot took out a procession and staged a sit-in here on Monday against non-provision of water to their land which receives water Sanwari miner canal.

Carrying placards, growers led by Abdul Samad Chandio were chanting slogans against the irrigation department. When they observed the sit-in at the Kunri-Umerkot road, vehicular traffic plying to Umerkot and other towns remained suspended for four hours.

Zardari approves mega projects for Sindh

KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari approved several mega projects for Karachi and other areas of Sindh on Monday, including the mass transit and circular railway plans for the provincial capital and highways, irrigation and drainage schemes.

Briefing journalists after a meeting presided over by the president, Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri said the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto transit CNG bus project for Karachi had been approved and only women would have the ownership right. Under the scheme, 500 environment-friendly CNG buses will be introduced and 50 per cent of the seats will be reserved for women.

The Karachi nazim will launch and oversee the project and the federal government will provide a subsidy of Rs700,000 per bus. The number of buses will be increased to 4,000 by 2012.

The federal government will provide sovereign guarantee for the Karachi mass transit project which will be built on a build, operate and own basis. International bids will be invited soon.

The Karachi circular railway will be revived at a cost of $1.6 billion with international help. The president said a resettlement plan should be prepared immediately for people living along the route.

The president approved the financing of the Lyari Expressway and asked the governor and chief minister to ensure settlement of people displaced by the project.

President Zardari also approved a rapid (bus) transit system (Bagota model) for Karachi. Three corridors will initially be developed for the plan —Nagan Chowrangi to Cantt Station, Saforan Goth to Numaish Chowrangi and Orangi to Board Office Chowrangi.

The president ordered construction of Karachi-Hyderabad motorway on international standards. It was decided that work on Larkana-Khairpur bridge would be accelerated.

The meeting directed the National Highway Authority to complete work on a priority basis on the Sukkur-Shikarpur-Jacobabad expressway and Ratodero-Sehwan additional carriageway. The Karachi sewerage scheme was also approved.

The president said the Thar coal project should be expedited and development of infrastructure must get the highest priority. Regarding the realignment of Right Bank Outfall Drain-III, the president said consultants should be assigned to propose required changes.

He said a meeting of public representatives of Sindh and Balochistan should be held to resolve outstanding issues. He said a scheme should be prepared for improvement of Phuleli canal in Badin.

The meeting was informed that that the Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas dual carriageway project would be ready for approval soon. The president stressed the need for improvement of the canal system and lining of distributaries and minors to ensure water conservation, supply to tail-enders and equitable distribution of water.

The meeting asked the Water and Power Development Authority to submit proposals to resolve the issues of the Left Bank Outfall Drain and tidal link affecting the people of Badin and Thatta. The president said the Sindh government should prepare projects for drip and sprinkler irrigation to help poor farmers.

ROJHAN JAMALI: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has declared Naseerabad, Jaffarabad and Jhal Magsi as calamity-hit areas.

Talking to media after offering condolences to former Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali on the death of Taj Mohammad Jamali, Premier Gilani said calamity-hit areas will be exempted from tax.

He announces the name of Changez Jamali as PPP candidate for by-polls. Prime Minister also announced the grant of Rs. 5 billion for roads construction.

One killed, two hurt in explosion

A man was killed, while two were hurt when two armed bandits, after robbing the Ranchor Lane market, lobbed a hand grenade and fled. A case was reported at the Risala police station.

After the incident, residents and shop keepers launched a protest against the police and demanded the arrest of the killers. SSP Amir Ahmed Sheikh of Saddar Town said that on Monday night two armed motorbike riders entered Ranchor Lane area and robbed some citizens and a shop.

Passers-by tried to catch the fleeing bandits and encircled them. The bandits hurled a hand grenade and fled. The grenade killed one person and injured another. A case was reported at the police station concerned.

PPP activist killed: Unidentified armed men killed an activist of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in Pakistan Bazaar, while an owner of a kiln was shot dead in the Al-Falah police limits. Twenty-three-year-old Rizwan alias Chaudhry Adil was shot dead in the Pakistan Bazaar police limits. The police said that the deceased was an electrician by profession and was a resident of Bangla Bazaar.

Late Sunday night, Rizwan went out for some work but did not return. On Monday afternoon his bullet-riddled body was found from the roof of Riaz Building situated in Bangla Bazaar. He had been kidnapped and killed. The deceased was an activist of the PPP. A case was registered on complaint of his brother, Abdul Nasir. Further probe is under way.

In another case, 60-year-old Abdul Rehman was shot dead, while his 30-year-old son Aslam was injured by the firing of unidentified armed men in the Al-Falah police limits.

The police said that the deceased was the owner of a kiln situated in Rafee Garden. He was present at his office along with his son when armed men riding on a motorcycle opened indiscriminate fire and fled. Rehman died on the spot and his son Aslam was injured. A case was reported at the police station.

Suspects attempt to kidnap minor girl

A strange incident was reported in the Baldia police limits, when four bearded suspects attempted to kidnap a minor girl. The girl, however, was rescued by the timely action of a shopkeeper. An Investigation Officer (IO) said that the girl belonged to a middleclass family and residents of the area have refused to record their statements.

The would-be victim was identified as 10-year-old Saba, a resident of Anjam Colony, Baldia-4 1/2. Her father, Mohammed Hussain, drives a Suzuki pick-up in Jodia Bazaar to earn his living.

Hussain said that he came home late at night after he finished work. He asked his wife about the school admission of his two children — Saba and eight-year-old Sheyan. His wife told him that she went to a school situated near Kausar Chowk, Baldia. She met the teachers and administration officers of the school who interviewed the children and agreed to give them admission. Later, she told Saba and Sheyan to go home because she had to find out about their books, uniforms and fees.

When she reached home, Saba and Sheyan told her that on their way home, Sheyan stopped at Rafiq General Store, situated near their house to buy something, and Saba waited outside. Meanwhile, a white-bearded old man came to her and told her to put her dupatta on her head. Right after this, the man suddenly put Saba’s dupatta on her face and tried to kidnap her.

Sheyan saw this and started shouting for help. Rafiq, the shopkeeper, came to her rescue, and slapped the old man in the face. While this was going on, three people in a black car approached them, and the old man rushed towards the car and escaped.

Hussain confirmed the incident with his daughter, and then registered a complaint at the Baldia police station. The police have lodged an FIR.

The IO said that the case was not yet clear. The family was not financially sound, and the police were therefore not sure if the suspects had attempted to kidnap the girl for ransom. The IO further said that the streets in the area where the suspects attempted to kidnap Saba were so narrow that it would take time for any person driving a vehicle to escape. Meanwhile, investigators have made a sketch of the suspect. Further probe is under way.