[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

DAM-L Authorities kill water protesters in Pakistan (fwd)



----- Forwarded message from Right to Water -----

Return-path: <right-to-water@iatp.org>
Received: from mail.iatp.org (iatp-2.InnovSoftD.com [208.141.36.66])
	by lox.sandelman.ottawa.on.ca (8.8.7/8.8.8) with ESMTP id JAA08131
	for <dianne@sandelman.ottawa.on.ca>; Mon, 11 Jun 2001 09:34:10 -0400 (EDT)
Received: from [208.141.36.73] by mail.iatp.org
	         (Netscape Messaging Server 3.62)  with SMTP id 260
	         for <dianne@sandelman.ottawa.on.ca>;
	         Mon, 11 Jun 2001 08:39:30 -0500
From: Right to Water <right-to-water@iatp.org>
To: dianne@sandelman.ottawa.on.ca
Subject: Authorities kill water protesters in Pakistan
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2001 08:49:25 -0500
X-Mailer: Allaire Cold Fusion 3.1
Message-ID: <20010611133929132.AAL343.260@[208.141.36.73]>

Right to Water (right-to-water@iatp.org)    Posted: 06/11/2001  By  daima@brain.net.pk	
============================================================



Dear All,

Authorities have killed two protesters and injured many others in Sindh.
Sindh is the lower riparian on the mighty river Indus in Pakistan. People
have been agitating for irrigation water in the wake of a severe drought
that has been affecting the region for the third year in row. The state has
muddled the troubled waters of politics further by this act of naked
violence. It is bound to impact the water scene negatively.

It is a shame that the state is manifesting it's inability to manage our
plentiful waters through such violence. The water sector is in serious
trouble precisely because of similar management highhandedness. There is no
policy. Decisions are made at discretion and these invariably make the
situation worse!

Let's acknowledge that the problem of water distribution between the
provinces is a political one and needs a solution at that level. Political
solutions come out of dialogue. Dialogue cannot take place in violence.

Regards.

Khalid Hussain,
Interim Co-ordinator,
Pakistan Water Policy Partnership (PWPP),
Development VISIONS,
48 A, Shalimar Colony,
Bosan Road, Multan- Pakistan
Ph:++92-61-222609


1. Water shortage: Two protesters killed (Dawn Report)
2. Two killed, several injured in JSQM-police scuffles (The News report)


[1]]

Water shortage: Two protesters killed
Dawn Report

SUKKUR, June 10: Two people were killed and 40 others, including 10
policemen, wounded in clashes with police in Kotdiji, Ranipur, Naushahro
Feroze, Moro, Dadu and Shikarpur on Sunday.

The clashes occurred when police used tear gas and resorted to aerial
firing to disperse the participants of a rally, which was taken out by the
Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz to block the National Highway in protest against the
water shortage in Sindh.

The participants of the rally, led by JSQM chief Bashir Ahmed Khan Qureshi,
arrived in Kotdiji from Moro in buses and cars despite all the hurdles and
1,500 policemen deputed on the highway at different places.

Twenty armoured personnel carriers and dozens of mobile vans kept
patrolling the highway to foil the rally, whose participants wanted to
stage a sit-in to stop motorists from coming from or going to Punjab. The
buses, which were carrying the protesters were rendered useless when police
deflated their tyres by firing.

The official in charge of the Kotdiji police said they had arrested 175
protesters after an exchange of fire. Some policemen fell unconscious from
heat-stroke.

The police are said to have arrested some local newsmen, including Mukhtar
Memon, Amanullah Junejo and Ikhtiar, and damaged their cameras. Another
journalist had his arm fractured in a scuffle with police.

At least 28 people, including four policemen, were wounded during the
clashes. Their names could not be ascertained. Meanwhile, the police
intercepted several processions, coming from Larkana and Shikarpur, and did
not allow the procession to enter Sukkur.

In New Goth, some MQM workers set ablaze tyres after the police did not
allow them to move towards the Sukkur bypass. According to the JSQM, Bashir
Khan Qureshi joined hundreds of his party workers at the Moro bypass and
led the rally towards Sukkur. Bashir Khan had a narrow escape when the
police fired at his car at Kotdiji. He sped away to avoid arrest.

A heavy police contingent stopped 30 vehicles at the Dadu-Moro bypass by
resorting to aerial firing and tear gas shelling, resulting in the death of
Abdul Haq Mirani.

The police impounded six buses, three wagons and three cars carrying JSQM
workers. Ten other vehicles were damaged in the police firing.

Khairpur SSP told newsmen that terrorism cases would be registered against
the JSQM workers, as the police had seized nine TT pistols, two shotguns
and other weapons from them. Later talking to newsmen from Babarloi by
phone, Mr Qureshi said that the police had opened fire on workers at
Dadu-Moro bridge and had shot an office-bearer, Abdul Haq Mirani, and a
worker, Ahmed Khan, of the party to death.

He said the police had fired shots at his car to kill him. "However, I
luckily escaped", he added. The police also tried to intercept the rally
near Ranipur and used tear gas. A policeman, Ali Asghar Bhambhro was
injured in the clash with the mob. Unconfirmed reports said that the
policeman had later died.

Our Naushahro Feroze Correspondent adds: About 200 JSQM activists were
arrested near Moro. A rally, led by JSQM chairman, Bashir Khan Qureshi, was
intercepted by the police to prevent them from heading towards Sukkur.

Our Nawabshah Correspondent adds: The A-section police arrested an activist
of the JSQM, Sarfraz Memon, here.

Our Khairpur correspondent adds: More than 10 JSQM workers and a police
constable were injured in clashes between the Khairpur police and JSQM
workers here as the workers took out processions from different parts of
the district to participate in the protest sit-in at the Babarloi Bypass.

A procession was heading from Khairpur to Babarloi on the National Highway
when the police tried to stop it at the Ranipur Bypass, resulting in a
clash.

The police resorted to aerial firing and also fired tear-gas shells to
disperse the protesters. Police constable Ghulam Asghar Bhambhro was
injured as the protesters hurled stones at the police.

The procession later reached the Ranipur railway gate, which had already
been closed to stop the protesters. The gate was opened by Railways
authorities on the pressure of JSQM workers. The Khairpur police arrested
more than 80 people from public places, including hotels, before the sit-in.

Adds our Shikarpur correspondent: The police raided the houses of local
JSQM leaders and workers in Shikarpur, Garhi Yasin, Karan and other areas
of the district. Over 25 leaders and workers, including a Naib Nazim and a
councillor, were arrested on Saturday night.

Those arrested included newly-elected Naib Nazim Gulbaig Lohar, Abdul
Sattar Jafri, Nabi Bukhsh Chandio, Adnan Jakhiro, Ghulam Qadeer Memon,
Naveed Mirani, Manthar Memon, Deedar Phulpoto, Imdad Hakro, Ghulam Nabi
Dahar, Mukhtiar Shaikh, Taj Mohammad Chano, Ghulam Mohammad Banglani,
Shaheen Memon and Aijaz Junejo.

Our Dadu Correspondent adds: One JSQM activist of was killed and 10 other
workers and 10 policemen were injured in a clash between police and JSQM
workers near Dadu-Moro Bridge, some 10km from here, on Sunday morning.

At least 18 JSQM activists were arrested during the clash in Jhallo and 32
others were arrested at different places on the Indus Highway during the
clashes between police and the protesters.

A caravan of the JSQM and Jeay Sindh Students Federation (JSSF) was on its
way from the Larkana district to Sukkur to participate in the protest
sit-in was surrounded by three Jhallo police parties at check post L.S.
Band.

The protesters clashed with the police, using sticks and stones, and
wounded two policemen. When the protesters arrived in front the Jhallo
police station, a heavy contingent of police, comprising about 400
officials, led by the Dadu SSP Mushtaque Ahmed Mehar; DSP Aftab Ahmed
Nizamani and headquarters DSP Haji Sikandar Ali Mangi, stopped them.

About 900 workers of the JSQM and the JSSF clashed with the police during
which six policemen, including the DSP, received minor injuries. The
protesters broke the glasses of some private busses and wagons, busted
their tyres and blocked the road.

They staged a demonstration on Dadu-Naushehro Feroze Indus Highway, chanted
slogans and suspended all vehicular traffic for one hour.

Ten workers received injuries. Eight of them were identified as Dr Arbab
Khuhawar, Mujeebur Rehman, Amir Ali Brohi, Mumtaz Ali, Ali Asghar Shah,
Ghulam Hussain, Sikandar and Sahib.

Our Jacobabad correspondent adds: Another caravan, from Jacobabad, was on
its way to Sukkur via Dadu-Moro Indus Highway when it was stopped at
Kolachi Mori in the Mehar taluka of Dadu district by a heavy police
contingent, led by the Mehar DSP.

The participants of the caravan staged a demonstration to protest against
the Mehar police, and blocked the highway.

The police used tear gas and batons, while workers in retaliation used
stones and sticks. About 20 JSQM workers were arrested and taken to the
Mehar police station.

http://www.dawn.com/2001/06/11/top6.htm

___________

[2]]

Two killed, several injured in JSQM-police scuffles

By Anwer Kamal and Waseem Shamsi

SUKKUR: Two people were killed and many others injured on Sunday when
police opened fire on the activists of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mohaz (JSQM) and
Muttahida Qaumi Movement during what they called "protest against water
shortage in Sindh". The police arrested over 300 of the activists
attempting to stage sit-in on the National Highway near Moro, Kandiaro,
Halani, Kotdiji and Babarloi bypass.

However, party sources claimed that 300 activists were injured in clashes
with the police and over a thousand were arrested in four districts. Saying
"yes" to the protest call, thousands of workers and supporters from all
over Sindh arrived in Moro, Neausheroferoz, Khairpur and Sukkur districts
to join the "struggle for rights of Sindh". As part of the programme, the
activists from all over the province were to reach Sukkur city and stage a
sit-in at Sukkur bypass "against water shortage in Sindh".

The protest started from Dadu-Moro bridge. The JSQM chief, who was avoiding
arrest for some days, appeared there and led a caravan, consisting of buses
and cars, in a bid to reach Sukkur. The police resorted to tear-gassing and
firing so as to avoid the caravan to move ahead. Notwithstanding the police
action, the caravan, under the leadership of Bashir Qureshi, managed to
reach Nausheroferoze, Halani and then Kotdiji where the workers staged
sit-ins, thereby blocking the Sindh-Punjab border. Bashir Qureshi came out
the bus he was travelling by and participated in the sit-ins amid claps and
slogans.

Another sin-in was staged by thousands of JSQM supporters at a deserted
place in Kotdiji. To disperse the protesters, the police opened fire at
them causing injuries to many people. The police also arrested some 200
protesters, who were taken to various police stations. During the scuffle
in Kotdiji, where the biggest showdown took place, an unidentified activist
was killed while scores of other were injured.

According to a Muttahida office-bearer, the police banned the entry of
party workers and supporters into Sukkur and arrested hundreds of them from
Sukkur, Rohri, Kot Mir Mohammed, Pano Aqil, Ghotki and Ubaoro and took him
to unknown places. A JSQM worker told The News that the police stopped a
caravan of 13 buses at Dadu-Moro bypass taken out from Larkana and Dadu. He
said that a Dadu-based JSQM worker, Abdul Haq Mirani, was killed in police
firing there while Zafer Chandio was injured.

He said that the caravan left Moro for Naushoroferoze district. When it
reached the Nausheroferoze bypass, it was stopped by a heavy contingent of
police, which led to scuffle between the two sides. The police opened fire
over the JSQM activists, injuring many of them. The Khairpur police said
that it had to resort to firing in order to save their own lives as the
JSQM activists had opened fire on them.
They claimed to have recovered nine TT pistols from the possession of the
party workers. They also impounded six buses, three wagons and as many
cars. They said a cop, Ali Asghar Bhambhro, was injured in the clash. The
situation is still tense in Sukkur city, where all the roads have been
sealed by the police. Bashir Qureshi, could not emerge in Sukkur. His
vehicle had been fired upon by police in Kotdiji.

Our Dadu correspondent adds: Four FIRs have been registered against 500
JSQM activists. Juhlo police have registered a case in which 500 JSQM
activists have been nominated for committing illegal protest. In the FIR,
18 activists have been showed as "arrested" including Dr Arbab Khanwar,
Mujeeb Chandio, Ali Tunio, Mumtaz Ameer Brohi, Asghar Shah, Hussain
Chandio, Abid Shah, Hadi Shah, Hassan Mahar, Uttar Samon, Abdul Arbani,
Shahid Shah and Memon Mangi.

http://jang.com.pk/thenews/index.html






============================================================
How to Use this Mailing List
============================================================

You received this e-mail as a result of your registration on the right-to-water mailing list.

To unsubscribe, please send an email to listserv@iatp.org. In the body of the message type:
unsubscribe right-to-water

<b>To Subscribe, please send an email to listserv@iatp.org. In the body of the message type:
subscribe right-to-water</b>

To view the archive, go to www.iatp.org/listarchive

For a list of other commands and list options, please send email to listserv@iatp.org. 
In the body of the message type:
help

Please direct content questions about this list to: mritchie@iatp.org

Please direct technical questions about this service to: support@iatp.org



----- End of forwarded message from Right to Water -----