SUKKUR:
A landlord near Daharki has pitched himself against one of the largest oil and gas companies in Pakistan, alleging that it drained floodwater into his fields as a result of which his crops were destroyed. The company has denied the charges, saying that he’s just trying to pressure them for money.
The landowner’s story
Allah Bux Bhutto maintains that 20 acres of his cotton, rice and vegetables were destroyed when the company drained water from its plant and residential colony into his neighbouring fields on September 4. He says that when he and his clansmen staged a demonstration and a sit-in, in an effort to gain recompense, the company responded by threatening him.
According to Bhutto, Mari Gas field officer Jawed Iqbal Jadoon, security officer Hussain Chachar and human resources officer Abid Pitafi, accompanied by 15 Rangers, stormed into his house late at night on September 15, manhandled the men, women and children present and tried unsuccessfully to kidnap Bhutto’s son, Asif.
Bhutto told The Express Tribune that he had written to the Ghotki DCO and the tapedar, a low-ranking official responsible for tax collection. When the tapedar supported Bhutto, the company began to issue threats. “They then broke into my house,” he said angrily. “They pointed guns at us as if we were criminals. Thankfully, the other villagers intervened in time and the invaders could only issue threats as they left.”
In court
After this, Bhutto filed a petition through his lawyer Anwar Ali Lohar. On Friday, the matter landed in the district and sessions court of Ghotki where Justice Sagheer Ahmed Shaikh ordered the police to register a case against the three company officers and the Rangers on the charges of forced entry, manhandling the men and women and the attempted kidnapping of Bhutto’s son.
The company’s version
Mari Gas Company’s public relations officer Riaz Ahmed categorically denied the charges levelled by Allah Bux Bhutto and added that the matter was coloured by another altercation - but over fumigation.
After the devastating rainfall, the company decided to fumigate its office block and residential colony in the first week of September. The villagers of Kotlo Mirza asked the company to do it in their area as well to get rid of the mosquitos.
In response, the company sent a vehicle mounted with a fumigation machine along with two officers.
The staff worked through the village and when they came to the Bhutto house, Allah Bux’s son Asif asked them to spray inside. The staff refused, saying that they were not allowed to enter houses. This sparked a heated argument after which the company staff left the village.
As far as draining the rainwater into the fields is concerned, the PRO said it was impossible as there is a five foot high road between the company’s residential colony and the village. The PRO maintained that the company had drained the water into their own land, which is spread over 100 acres.
Conflicting statements
As far as the company is concerned, Allah Bux Bhutto is just trying to pressure it for some monetary gain. In fact, according to PRO Riaz Ahmed on Saturday, the landlord had already started sending his men to the management in order to request they patch things up.
When The Express Tribune asked Bhutto why, despite the court’s order, he was delaying the registration of a case against the company officials and rangers personnel, he said that the matter was being discussed with the elders of the community. He claimed that Mari had sent them a message, asking for the reconciliation, therefore they had delayed lodging a case.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 2nd, 2011.
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