BADIN: Fisherfolk held a charged protest demonstration here on Thursday against Sindh government`s move to re-impose contractual system for fishing in coastal belt and in freshwater bodies in the rest of the province.

The protesters including children gathered at Deputy Commissioner Chowl( and then marched to the Badin Press Club where they staged the demonstration for several hours. All `conspiracies` by the functionaries concerned of the Sindh government to deprive thousands of fishermen of their right to catch fish in the coastal belt would be resisted strongly, said Syed Mohammad Ali Shah, chairman of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF).

He said while speaking to the protesters that an `anti-fishermen` director general of fisheries department had suggested to Sindh chief minister in a letter a few months back to stop allowing fishermen to catch fish.

He said that now the officers were trying to occupy all the 1,209 water sources of the province while over 500 water bodies had already been occupied.

Mr Shah said that Sindh Assembly had passed a bill in favour of fishermen, recognising their rights on the water resources of the province in 2011, af ter a historic struggle by fishermen for safeguarding their fundamental rights.

He said that two years ago Sindh High Court had also ordered the provincial government to end occupation of all lakes andwater bodies on a petition filed by the PFF.

`All attempts to abolish the bill will be resisted strongly,` he added.

He asked the department concerned to immediately issue licenses to genuine fishermen and demanded that all the persons who had occupied water bodies in Badin and other districts be taken to task and local fishermen be allowed again to catch fish.

Mr Shah said that awarding contracts for fishing both in sea and water sources in lower Sindh region to influential persons was not only an attempt to deprive the poor community of their livelihood but was also illegal.

He vowed to continue their peaceful protest till their demands were met and recalled that the slain leader of PPP Ms Benazir Bhutto had opposed contract system for fishing but the present rulers, including the provincial minister concerned, were bent upon renderingthousands ofpeoplejobless.

He said that all the people engaged in fishing should be issued licenses for catching fish in all freshwater bodies and in the costal belt as prolonged water crisis and devastating impact of climate change had already played havoc with marine life along coastal belt.

Mr Shah lamented that stagnant rainwater in most coastal villages had multiplied hardships for villagers and filled their settlements with mosquitoes and other harmful insects.

Other PFF leaders also spoke and vowed to continue their protest against the Sindh government decision to deprive fishermen of their fundamental right on water bodies.