Usta Muhammad residents protest with Holy Quran over land lease and alleged eviction

USTA MUHAMMAD: Residents of Goth Nabi Bakhsh Nawara in the Cattle Farm area near Usta Muhammad held the Holy Quran in their hands to protest against the lease of state land and alleged attempts to evict them from it. They demanded justice and protection from senior officials.

The protesters said that for four generations they have been raising livestock on state livestock land and using other means to support their families. According to them, attempts are now being made to evict them after the land was recently leased out. They said this has put their livelihoods and future at serious risk.

Appeal to authorities

The protesters appealed to the Chief Minister of Balochistan, the Chief Secretary of Balochistan and the Chief Justice of Balochistan to take immediate notice of the matter. They asked that the lease of the state land and the eviction issue be investigated and that the affected families be given protection.

They said that if they were evicted, their families could lose their homes as well as their livelihoods.

The protesters warned that if their plea was not heard and the issue was not resolved fairly, they would be forced to widen the protest and block the national highway.

They asked the authorities concerned to resolve the matter on a priority basis on humanitarian grounds so that the affected families could be spared further hardship.