News
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Sindhi writers, poets and intellectuals reject island deal
* Demand development for island for fishermen, tourismKARACHI: A large number of writers, poets, journalists, fisherfolk on Saturday rejected the selling of two islands on Karachi coast to Bahria Town and a US company for construction of a housing scheme and demanded the provincial government to cancel the deal and develop the area for fishermen and tourism.
Hundreds of fishermen from coastal areas of Sindh, writers and intellectuals and political leaders had gathered at Dingi Island, an uninhabited island near DHA beach to register a protest against the deal of a construction of a housing cum recreation project by Bahria Town. All the participants including a large number women and children sailed on fishing boats to the venue, where a seminar, “muzahimati mushaira” and a protest demonstration were held organised by Sindh Writers and Thinkers Forum.
The poets recited their poetry against the construction deal, where as writers and politicians condemned the deal in a clandestine manner. The speakers including Ms. Marvi Memon, a leader of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz); Ms. Marvi Rashidi, ex-MPA and a leader of PML-Functional; Haji Shafi Mohammad Jamot; Jami Chandio; Shah Mohammad Shah; Muzaffar Chandio; Noor Ahmed Memon; Khurshid Abbasi; Prof. MushtaqMirani; Manzoor Solangi; Dastagir Bhatti; Arbab Chandio; Khurhsid Abbasi and others.
At the end of the seminar and Mushaira, the participants staged a protest demonstration against the island deal and marched for a while on the island. They raised slogans against the government for selling the resources of indigenous people. They also demanded that the provincial government should cancel the deal and take over all the islands and develop them for the benefits of the people. pr
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk