The indigenous fishermen of Gizri neighbourhood, relatives of Moriro Mirbahar – founder of Kolachi village – have been denied access to their livelihood as the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) officials have restricted them from using the historical Gizri jetty for fishing.
For the past 15 days, the fishermen have not been allowed to enter the area and their families are facing an uncertain situation as they survive on the earning from fishing trips.
Four years ago, the DHA after talks with fisherfolk community members had allowed fishermen to continue using the jetty.
“For generations, the local fishermen have been earning their livelihood through fishing and should have the right to use the jetty,” said the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) spokesman.
The PFF, an organisation for the welfare of local fisherfolk communities, has been raising its voice against the DHA for a long time.
“The indigenous fishermen are again facing trouble, as DHA has one again erected a barrier, restricting them from going to the Gizri Jetty, which they had been using for several decades,” the PFF spokesman said.
“Four years ago, when we started a series of protest, the DHA held meetings with fishermen along with members of national assembly, community elders and PFF representatives,” he said. “In the meeting, the DHA realised the situation and promised building a separate pedestrian bridge for fishermen to reach the jetty without any hindrance.”
However, later the DHA breached its promises one after the other and banned fishermen’s entry, the PFF spokesperson claimed.
On Thursday, PFF office bearers led by General Secretary Saeed Baloch and members Mustafa Gurgaz, Talib Kachi and Latif Dhorai and other community elders held a meeting with DHA officials, including its Karachi Director Brigadier Rafiq Qaimkhani and Vigilance Director Colonel Amjad to chalk out a permanent solution.
The DHA officials denied any interruption to disrupt fisherfolk activities but the community people informed them that security guards stationed at the jetty have not allowed them to use the site for the past two weeks.
“It is understood that DHA officials do not like to give space to the [fishing] community people to enter the posh areas of the city from these old routes,” it was stated in a statement issued by the PFF on Thursday.
“We have conveyed to the DHA officials that the move is in violation of basic human rights and the fishermen should be allowed to continue their activities,” it was said.
The PFF spokesman said that in case of DHA’s refusal, the matter will be taken up through the media to higher authorities, parliaments and international human rights groups.
After the meeting with DHA officials, the PFF also informed the Sindh Fisheries Minister Zahid Hussain Bhurgari about the situation, who assured the community people of taking up the case personally to safeguard the fisherfolk’s right to livelihood.
Before the urban expansion in the city, fisher communities had easy access to these waters and traditional jetties, where they used to live peacefully. After rapid urbanisation, powerful institutions established controlled over all jetties, entrances, putting the community people in a helpless situation.
