Protesters unimpressed by CCI decision

HYDERABAD:

The declaration of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) seems to have failed to budge the protesting legal fraternity of Sindh which has decided to continue their sit-in protests.

Talking to the media in Kashmore-Kandhkot district, Sindh High Court Bar Association President Barrister Sarfaraz Ali Metlo said the lawyers stick to their demand of issuing notifications cancelling not only the six canals project but also the corporate farming as well.

According to him, the lawyers' sit-ins will not cease over the CCI's announcement. The SHCBA Hyderabad's outgoing President advocate Ayaz Hussain Tunio contended that they cannot give up over just one demand.

"We have been demanding from day one that the government should notify cancellation of both the six canals projects and the corporate farming."

He cautioned that the more the governments delay issuance of the notifications, the more protests will spread in the province.

Advocate Sajjad Ahmed Chandio, a member of the lawyers committee constituted to negotiate with the government, told The Express Tribune that a majority of the lawyers have rejected the CCI's decision. He informed that the lawyers' committee is scheduled to hold a meeting past Monday midnight to deliberate.

Even if the notification of consigning canals to oblivion is issued today, we will continue our protests though we will celebrate this victory all night," said advocate Syed Jaffar Shah of the committee while addressing protesters at the Babarloi camp in Khairpur district. Shah took a pledge from the people that none of them should leave until the lawyers' committee announced an end to the protest.

The CCI's declaration has also not gone well with the nationalist leaders.

Also, social activist Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Jr said the CCI's decision does not reflect their demand of putting the canals project to an end permanently. "The government is also not listening to the people's wishes because this CCI meeting was called in an emergency in fear of the people." Bhutto also reiterated that corporate farming project also ought to be cancelled.

Karachi Bar Association's President Amir Nawaz Warraich although congratulated the protesters over their triumph, he said the 14-member committee of the lawyers will decide about future course of action.

The camp in Babarloi was filled with celebratory slogans as people danced to nationalist songs amid fireworks outside the camp.