KARACHI (February 25 2004): Fishermen, protesting against the alleged corruption, mal-administration and illegal recruitments, staged a demonstration outside the venue of a crucial meeting of the Board of Directors of the Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS) at the fish harbour on Tuesday.

The demonstration was organized by FCS employees' union and officers' association. The protesters raised slogans against the FCS administration and demanded removal of its chairman. They also demanded an inquiry into the illegal recruitments.

Led by the office-bearers of the union and leaders of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, the protesters staged a sit-in outside the office of FCS Chairman, Sardar Manzoor Ali Khan Panhwar, who is also the provincial Minister for Fisheries and Livestock. They called for the convening of a general body meeting.

Speaking to the protesters, their leaders claimed that the Society was now on the verge of collapse due to financial irregularities and corruption. Illegal recruitment of 427 people had aggravated the situation.

Accusing eight of the directors of resorting to nepotism, they demanded removal of the FCS chairman and of those recruited illegally. They vowed to intensify their protest campaign if their demands were not met.

DAWN