TH ATTA: The Jeay Sindh Rahbar Committee, a joint forum of several Sindhi nationalist parties, announced on Monday staging a sit-in outside the Directorate General of Mines and Mineral Development office in Karachi on Aug 4 in protest against open auction for grant of lease for mining granite from Karoonjhar Hills in Nagarparkar.

Jeay Sindh Mahaz-Riaz chairman Riaz Ali Chandio, who chaired the committee`s meeting at Karnani House in Makli, expressed surprise that despite mounting pressure, protests not only by political parties but also by conservationists, members of civil society and locals of Tharparkar, the government seemed unmovedand hence failed to address peoples` concerns over excavation activities at Karoonjhar by vested interests in connivance with the department concerned.

Unfortunately, he said, some greedy elements wanted to disfigure the picturesque hills, which were one of the major tourist attractions in Thar, particularly after monsoon rains. Hence, such treatment of the tourist sites would naturally discourage inflow of visitors and cause decline in revenue, he said.

He pointed out to another cause of grave concern for Sindhis over allotment of 1.3 million acres land to Defense Establishment and said that it was tantamount to encroachment upon legitimate rights of Sindhis.

Legislation in the name of onewindow operation through National Assembly was also an atrocious step against the people of Sindh in which Pakistan Peoples Party, JUI-F, PML-N and other parties were equally responsible, he said.

He appealed to people, including advocates, journalists, socio-politicalleaders,historylovers, conservationists and civil society to participate in the sit-in on Aug 4.

The meeting was attended by Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz senior leader Dr Niaz Kalani, JSQM-Arisar chairman Aslam Khairpuri, Jeay SindhQaumiPartychairmanNawaz Khan Zour, Jeay Sindh Tehreek leader Haji Anwar Karnani, Rawadari Tehreek leader Punhal Sario, JSM vice president Syed Nawaz Shah Bhadai, RawalKarnani, Nazeer Shaikh and others.