SHC, Karachi Bar end marches after govt vows to protect hills from ‘commercial exploitation’
Lawyers took to the streets, raising their voices in support of the historic Karoonjhar Hills. Photo: Jalal Qureshi/Express
KARACHI:
Lawyers from Sindh High Court Bar Association, Karachi Bar Association and All Sindh Lawyers Action Committee staged a protest in front of the Chief Minister’s House against mining in Karoonjhar Hills. Large rallies took place, with participants chanting slogans demanding protection of the historic hills.
The protests ended peacefully after successful negotiations between the lawyers’ associations and the Sindh government. Provincial ministers gave assurances that the lawyers’ charter of demands would be approved, prompting the lawyers to disperse peacefully.
The rallies started from the SHC and continued to the CM House, with significant participation from members of the legal community. Protests were also held at PIDC Chowk.
A delegation led by Barrister Sarfraz Metlo, President of Sindh High Court Bar Association, met Sindh Law Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, while the delegation of Karachi Bar Association President Aamir Nawaz Waraich held talks with Local Government Minister Naseer Hussain Shah. The two presidents presented a charter of demands to provincial ministers.
During the meetings, ministers recognized the legitimacy of the lawyers’ protest and highlighted their shared concerns regarding canal and water issues. They said the decision on the canal projects had already been withdrawn on the instructions of the president. Assurances were given that the government would stand with the lawyers on the Karoonjhar hills issue and fully represent their position in the assembly.
After the successful negotiations, lawyer Sarfraz Metlo expressed his gratitude to the media and civil society for their support and confirmed that the charter of demands had been submitted to the Minister of Justice. The Minister of Justice informed that mining contracts had been issued by the caretaker government and assured that the appeals would be withdrawn. The Karoonjhar Hills would be declared a heritage site and a deadline of 15 days has been fixed to resolve all related issues.
After the High Court Bar protest, the Karachi Bar Association also took out a rally from the High Court to the CM House, during which police attempts to block the march led to minor scuffles. Some lawyers climbed containers erected as barricades.
Aamir Nawaz Waraich said mining in Karoonjhar Hills was against the interests of Sindh and promised that protests would continue until the government formally withdraws its decision. After meeting Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, Waraich said the provincial government had assured that the appeal would be withdrawn and the Karoonjhar Hills would be preserved.
