March against dyke repair delay

THATTA, March 27: Activists of Awami Tehrik (AT) demonstrated on the Thatta-Badin Highway in protest against delay in repairing the flood-ravaged dykes. Carrying empty utensils, the protesters, including women, marched from Jhoke to Sujawal, suspending vehicular traffic to and from the coastal towns of Chuhar Jamali, Jati, Shah Bandar, Ladyoon and Mirpur Bathoro for about five hours. They alleged that the quality of work being done to strengthen dykes was inferior, water was not released in the riverine network of Laar (lower Sindh) and there was negligence in rehabilitation of the flood-affected people. Addressing protesters, AT president Ayaz Latif Palijo warned of a strike across Sindh if the dykes were not properly repaired by May 31, as promised by the Sindh government. He accused local PPP leaders and "vested interests" of usurping funds being provided by foreign donors and local philanthropists for the internally displaced people of Thatta district. He said that most of the people displaced by last year`s flood had not been rehabilitated so far. People are not getting water for irrigation and drinking and they have been deprived of routine incentives and facilities, particularly agriculture loans. He said the PPP government had lost its credibility by depriving the common man of their legitimate right to get water, education, jobs and health facilities. Mr Palijo said that after becoming chief minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who used to be a friend of nationalist parties and always struggled for restoration of Sindh`s rights, associated himself with elements who were plundering exchequer. He said the government had never sincerely tried to expose and arrest the culprits involved in the assassination of Ms Benazir Bhutto. Criticising some religious elements, he said they always took to the streets on issues like release of Raymond Davis, but never raised their voice for genuine problems of people. He said that Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Imran Khan and others never bothered to visit the flood-affected in Sindh, despite claiming to represent the entire country. He condemned the use of force by police against protesting women health workers in Obauro Qadir Ranto, Salma Lashari and other AT leaders also spoke on the occasion.