Fishermen demand basic rights, ban on deep-sea trawlers.

KARACHI -- Local fishermen have demanded provision of their basic rights and free access to fishing along with a ban on deep-sea trawlers.

Speaking during a convention jointly organised by the Pakistan Bonafide Fishermen Forum (PBFF) and Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) on Baba Island on Thursday, their leaders said fishermen were the founders of Karachi, but they had been neglected by policymakers.

It was due to that neglect that they were leading a miserable life without basic facilities in their areas, they said, adding that the fishermen were deprived of water, education, health, electricity, gas, roads, livelihood and other basic necessities of life.

The convention was attended by thousands of fishermen, including PBFF leader Zahid Bhatti, PFF chairman Mohammad Ali Shah, Mohammad Hussain and Haji Ali, who also addressed the event.

They said the ill planning and controversial policies of policymakers had affected the livelihood of fishermen as some federal and provincial security institutions harassed them in the name of security whenever they went on their fishing expeditions.

The leaders said the sea was the source of their livelihood and they wanted access to their right without hindrances according to the international and Pakistani laws. They said that any hindrance in their livelihood was injustice.

Presenting their charter of demands, the fishermen said they should not be harassed in the name of security. They also demanded that deep-sea trawlers should be banned in Pakistani waters.

Marine pollution could become dangerous and domestic and industrial waste should not be thrown into the sea. The use of harmful nets should be banned and in order to protect the...