KARACHI - A large number of writers, poets, politicians, journalists and members of fisher folk forum gathered at the sea to stage protest against the ‘Twin Island Deal.’
Crossing the sea, they reached the Dingi Island - an uninhabited island near DHA beach –and rejected the government’s deal with Bahria Town and a US firm for construction of housing-cum recreation project.
The protesters demanded that islands should be developed for the fishermen and tourism.
Under the banner of Sindh Writers and Thinkers Forum, a seminar and “Muzahimati Mushaira” and a protest demonstration were also held. The poets recited lengthy rhymes against the construction deal.
The speakers including Marvi Memon of PML-N, former MPA and PML-F leader Marvi Rashidi, Haji Shafi Muhammad Jamot; Jami Chandio; Shah Muhammad Shah; Muzaffar Chandio; Noor Ahmed Memon; Prof MushtaqMirani; and others addressed the event.
At the end of the seminar and Mushaira, the participants marched on the island in a protest against the deal. They raised slogans against the government for selling the resources of the indigenous people. The political leaders and literary personalities demanded the government to cancel the deal immediately and take the community people into confidence. They supported the warning of the fishermen to block the ships’ channels of major ports in the protest if deal was not cancelled. The fishermen vowed that they will not allow building these island cities by any foreign investing firm as those were source of their livelihood.
The speakers criticized the previous PPP government, alleging that Bahria Foundation chief built the Bilawal House in Lahore while Asif Ali Zardari allotted the twin islands to the Bahria Foundation as gift.
They vowed that the people of Sindh will not let the contractors built city project on the islands.
They also demanded the government to ensure basic facilities to the people of the coastal belt instead of launching such mega projects by destroying their livelihood resources.