Increase font size Decrease font size Reset font size

Villagers end protest after Polish oil firm accepts demands

By Qurban Ali Khushik 2015-05-05
DADU: The protest by villagers of the Kachho mountainous region who had been demonstrating against the Polish Oil & Gas Company at Karo Koat for the past eight days came to an end on Monday after the oil firm agreed to meet most of their demands.

The firm`s officials held talks with the protesters` leaders who demanded the company pay the residents of its catchment area royalty for the oil and gas it was extracting, compensation for land and jobs to local people.

The protesters who were led by former federal minister and chief of the Rind tribe Sardar Yar Mohammad Khan Rind and his son Sardar Khan Rind also demanded that the Sindhgovernment withdraw detention orders of their chieftains.

After prolonged talks between Sardar Khan Rind and his aides and three officers of the oil firm led by Ali Mohammad Lashari, it was agreed the firm would address all issues of locals and resolve them immediately.

Upon which, the demonstrators agreed to end the protest.

During the eight-day protest, the demonstrators had blocked the supply of water, food, transport and other essential materials to the main camp of the oil firm for a week.

The blockade was later ended by a police team led by Hyderabad DIG Sanaullah Abbasi, SSP Irfan Baloch and Jamshoro SSP Tarique Wilayat.

About three days back, Dadu Deputy Commissioner Nasir Abbas Soomro hadwritten to the Sindh home department complaining against Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind and his son for creating hindrances to the operation of the oil firm and the home department issued detention orders of Mr Rind and his son, which triggered protests by Rind tribesmen and their supporters in Sehwan and Wahi Pandhi.

The Sindh government, meanwhile, issued on Monday a notification, postingSheerazNazeerasSSPofDaduand directing SSP Rukhsar Ahmed Khuhwar to report at Central Police Office,Karachi.

Mr Nazeer is believed to have been tasked to tackle the dispute between the protesters and the oil firm.

More troops of Rangers and police have been deployed at Karo Kaot.