Feudalism, bandits, drugs have gripped Sindh: Justice Panhwar

Supreme Court Justice Salahuddin Panhwar has lamented that the feudal system, bandits and drugs have badly gripped and crippled the people in Sindh.

Addressing the legal fraternity at district bar association Umerkot, the judge said Larkana and Sukkur divisions have become ensnared by the tentacles of feudal lords and bandits while the drug culture has swept across the districts of Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas divisions.

"Generations are being destroyed," he bemoaned. "The lives of ordinary people and of the families are being destroyed." He maintained that if the stories of survival of such people are shared with the people in the civilized and developed world, the latter will become astonished to see how their fellow humans can stay alive in such situations.

The judge also deplored that the cases of illegally occupying lands also frequently occur in Sindh even though this problem has ceased to exist in other parts of the world. He said the Cooperative Societies Act was legislated to favour the poor people, labourers and peasants but its advantage presently is being taken by the rich people.

He also commented on the quality of education in Sindh, pointing out that in the digital era the students in Umerkot do not have access to computers for studying. "Two classes have been created in Sindh. The poor send their children to the government schools and the other classes educate their children in the private sector."

Justice Panhwar bewailed that the society has become compromising instead of pursuing and securing their rights. He urged the judges, lawyers, journalists and other important segments of the society to try to realize the problems affecting the people and to base their decisions on truth. "Our decisions ought to be public centric, taking care of the fundamental rights of the people."

On the occasion, the district bar's president advocate Shareef Bheel presented a charter of demands, calling for action against narcotics, providing health and education facilities, establishing sports grounds and controlling the deteriorating law and order. The apex court's judge also visited some schools and colleges.