DADU: A large number of fishermen took out a rally in Sehwan, 48 kilometres fromhere,onThursdayinprotestagainst feudal lord s and influential political persons who had `occupied Manchhar Lake` and forcibly snatched from them the centuries-old right to catch fish in the lake.

They warned if the situation did not improve and fishermen were not allowed to catch fish, they would stage a strong protest in front of Chief Minister House in Karachi.

The protesters led by chairman of Manchhar Bachayo Ittehad Moula Bux Mallah, general secretary of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) Ghulam Mustafa Mirani and local PFF leader Khamiso Khan Mallah marched on different roads and streets of the town before reaching the press club wherethey held a demonstration.

Mr Mirani said that feudal lords and political figures had deployed armed men along the lake, who used force to stop boats and makeshift homes of fishermen from moving into the lake and catching fish and migratory birds which landed on the lake in this season.

He said the local government was hand in glove with feudal lords and Jamshoro administration was not ready to take action against the armed men who patrolled the lake with complete impunity.

Moula Bux said the fishermen and their families were forced to starve as their only source of income had been snatched from them while feudal lords were catching fish and birds and earning million of rupees daily.

He said that at Jhangara Bajara, Tehni, Shah Hassan Band of Manchhar, Bubak and Zero Point areas of the lake the armed men had established watch-towers to keep an eye on fishermen.

They routinely beat up any fisherman who tried to catch fish, he said.

He said the situation at other lakes of the province was not much different and warned if fishermen did not get their centuries-old right to fish in the lake they would stage a strong demonstration before Chief Minister House in Karachi.

Punhal Sariyo of the Sindh Hari Porhiyat Council said that fishermen of Manchhar Lake were already living below poverty line. If they were not allowed to catch fish and birds in the lalce, they would face starvation, he said.

He said the feudal lords of the area were catching fish and birds with the support of fisheries department and Jamshoro district administration.

Khamiso Khan said the fishermen and their families were living in fear and terror. If they tried to move even an inch towards the lake they were subjected to torture.