Behram Baloch:
Balochistan Fisheries department arrested 17 accused involved in illegal trawling in Jewni tehsil of Gwadar district on Wednesday. Saifullah Khetran, the Director-General Fisheries Department Balochistan said an illegal trawler C-King 3 was also recovered from the possession of the accused.
“Zero tolerance for the illegal trawling in the sea”, Mr. Khetran told reporters. He said the department has been instructed by Chief Minister Mir Quddus Bizenjo to take stern action against the illegal trawler mafia in Gwadar.
This action on the part of the fisheries department has been taken against the trawler mafia after repeated protests against the trawler mafia in the sea in Gwadar.
All 17 accused belong to Sindh province
Mr. Khetran informed all 17 accused belong to the Sindh province and were involved in the illegal trawling for a long time in Gwadar and Jewni. “We have increased the sea patrolling to nab the accused involved in illegal trawling”, the DG stated. The DG stated that extra force and officials of the fisheries department have been deployed in and outside the sea to bring an end to illegal trawling.
Action against the accused has been taken at a time when the Gwadar Rights Movement (GRM) protest movement entered its 20th day. The GRM has also been protesting against the illegal trawling mafia in the Arabian Sea.
GRM staging sit-in against illegal trawling in Gwadar
Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman, the Chief of GRM has been leading the protest against the provincial and federal governments regarding increased checking, illegal trawling and other issues relating to the port city of the country.
The Maulana has accused the fisheries minister and other high-ups of their alleged involvement in the illegal trawling. The charge was vehemently denied by minister fisheries Haji Akbar Askani and other high-ups.
The Maulana and GRM supporters have blocked the main chowk in Gwadar to mount pressure on the government to acceptance of their demands. They complained that despite the passing of more than 20 days, the government is yet to address their issues and meet them.
