Strike observed by flood victims

Shutter-down strike is observed in Thatta to overcome problems faced by flood victims trying to acquire Watan cards.

THATTA: A shutter-down strike was observed in Thatta on Monday to overcome the problems faced by flood victims while trying to acquire Watan cards.

The protesters accused the National Database and Regulation Authority for not issuing Watan cards and taking their names off the list of flood victims.

Petrol pumps and the markets were shut down under the watchful eye of party activists in various areas including Thatta, Makli, Gharo, Gajjo and Sujawal. A few incidents of aerial firing were also reported. The parties demanded the government write off its debt by declaring the district a calamity-hit area and include the representatives of nationalist parties in all rehabilitation committees set up for flood victims. They also demanded that an inquiry be opened into the alleged corruption in relief goods.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2010.