| Imran Khan takes notice of ‘very 
legitimate’ demands of fishermen

Gwadar Movement leader Maulana Hidayat welcomes PM’s promise

ISLAMABAD/QUETTA   -  Prime Minister Imran Khan Sunday took notice of the demands of fishermen in Gwadar and assured “strong action” against illegal fishing by trawlers.

PM Imran Khan’s statement comes after weeks-long sit-in and protest by local residents. Following the protests and road closure, the government authorities had to deploy thousands of additional police officers in the region.

Hundreds of local residents, civil society activists, lawyers, journalists including women have been holding massive protests and a sit-in Gwadar for the last 28 days against unnecessary checkpoints, a severe shortage of water and electricity and threats to livelihoods from illegal fishing. “I have taken notice of the very legitimate demands of the hardworking fishermen of Gwadar. Will be taking strong action against illegal fishing by trawlers,” the prime minister said on Twitter. He also assured them to also speak to the chief minister of Balochistan on the issue.

The fishermen in Gwadar have been protesting against the devastating impact of illegal fishing by trawlers along the coast on the livelihoods of local fishermen.

On the other hand, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill on Sunday said the PM directed in November to address issue of illegal fishing in Gwadar immediately.

In a tweet, he said persons from all concerned departments were included in the committee to devise a workable solution to the issue. The committee would submit its recommendation in next three days and the issue would be resolved, he added.

Gill said Imran Khan always stood for the poor and no one would be allowed to exploit the poor. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf led government did record development work in Balochistan, he added. He said Balochistan was very close to the heart of the PM. Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman, Balochistan gen¬¬eral secretary of Jamaat-i-Islami party, who has led the protests, welcomed the premier’s tweet. Mr Rehman, who is leading the Gwadar Ko Huqooq Do Tehreek (Give Rights to Gwadar Movement), said their two major demands were - action against “trawler mafia” and resolution of issues on the Iran border - from overall 19 demands.

Meanwhile, Adviser to the Balochistan Chief Minister on Home and Tribal Affairs Mir Ziaullah Lagau said that the protesters had a list of 19 demands, 16 of which had been accepted by the government.

“The demands accepted include illegal trawlers fishing in Gwadar port, patrolling increased to check on illegal trawlers, freedom for local fishermen to go to sea, elimination of unnecessary checkposts on major roads, closure of wine shops in Gwadar and elimination of interference in cross-border trade with Iran and end to all kinds of interference and establishment of trade markets at border,” he told reporters.