Occupy Karachi coastline: Fishermen protest DHA barring parts of the coast

PFF claims they have dibs on the coastline, DHA security cannot stop them from fishing.


Express October 31, 2011

KARACHI:


Fishermen of the lower Gizri area staged a protest at Clifton beach on Monday after some of their peers were allegedly beaten up by the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) staff for fishing along the coastal belt.


A group of fishermen were setting up their nets some distance from the seashore near the Emaar Crescent Bay project when they had a run-in with DHA vigilance officers.

“Fishermen have been barred from using boats along the coastal belt,” complained Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) Chairperson Muhammad Ali Shah. “They have even been stopped from using the seashore.”

Only a few points have been marked out for fishing. The jurisdiction over Karachi’s coastline is divided between DHA and the Karachi Port Trust.

DHA Vigilance Director Col (ret) Amjad initially refused to acknowledge that any such incident had taken place. When pushed, however, he said, “We don’t stop anyone. There are just a few places such as the desalination plant and Emaar where we are a bit strict due to security.”

He admitted that some fishermen had come to his office complaining. “I cannot meet everyone,” said the director. “There is a way of doing things here - I directed them to my deputy.”

Shah, meanwhile, feels that fishermen have first rights over Karachi’s coastline. “These people have used the waters for centuries. First the boats were an issue and now even the seashore.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2011.

COMMENTS (1)

ASK | 12 years ago | Reply As mentioned in another article if a honest shopkeeper keeps his carton outside his shop for 1 hour, the DHA staff is there to stop you, while, on the main road in DHA some people house structure is built in such a way that you cannot walk on the walkway. Also, giving licenses to liquor shops which is useless topic to talk about as everyone buys it, I think there major customers are muslims, what does DHA do about it, nothing.
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