Sukkur (Report by Danish Rajput):
In front of the Sukkur National Press Club, a group of villagers from Goth Haji Jadal Mahar, located within the jurisdiction of the Tamachani police station, staged a strong protest demonstration against what they described as an attempted illegal land grab by influential individuals. The protest was led by community members including Khadim Mahar, Abdul Haq, Rashid Mahar, and others. Holding placards and raising slogans, the villagers demanded justice and protection from harassment, alleging that powerful figures were attempting to dispossess them of their rightful land.

According to the protestors, influential individuals named Saddam Mahar, Abdul Sattar, Zakaria, Sajjad Mahar, and their associates are actively trying to seize their agricultural land. The villagers stated that they have already approached the courts and filed a legal case to safeguard their rights. However, ever since initiating legal action, they claim to have faced mounting threats and intimidation. “They are pressuring us to withdraw our case,” one protestor said. “If we don’t comply, they say we will face dire consequences.”

The protestors further alleged that these influential individuals are using their power and connections to implicate the villagers in false cases. According to them, fabricated police reports have been registered to intimidate them into abandoning their legal claims. This, they argued, is a deliberate tactic to weaken their position in court and discourage them from fighting for their rights. “Instead of protecting us, some elements within the system are being misused against us,” another villager complained.

The villagers emphasized that their land is not only their source of livelihood but also their ancestral heritage. They fear losing their identity and means of survival if it is forcibly taken away. Many of them are small-scale farmers who depend entirely on their fields to grow crops for household consumption and market sale. “For us, land is life,” said a farmer among the protesters. “If our land is taken, our families will face hunger and despair. We will become beggars in our own homeland.”

During the protest, the demonstrators called upon senior officials, including the Inspector General of Sindh Police, the Deputy Inspector General of Sukkur, and the Senior Superintendent of Police Sukkur, to take urgent action. They demanded strict legal proceedings against the accused individuals and asked for immediate intervention to stop the harassment. The protestors argued that without the protection of law enforcement, they remain vulnerable to the unchecked power of local elites.

The demonstration in Sukkur reflects a broader pattern of rural grievances in Sindh, where land disputes often pit less privileged farmers and villagers against more influential and resourceful groups. In many cases, these disputes escalate due to weak enforcement of property rights, delayed court proceedings, and misuse of local police by those with political or financial clout. Villagers often feel compelled to resort to public protests as a last resort to attract attention to their plight.

Social activists and civil society groups in Sukkur who observed the demonstration expressed concern over the issue, highlighting that such land disputes have become increasingly common in recent years. They criticized the failure of authorities to curb land grabbing and ensure protection of marginalized communities. “Every week we hear of new cases where small farmers are dispossessed,” one activist commented. “The law exists, but the problem lies in its enforcement. Without strong will from higher authorities, these incidents will continue.”

The protestors also stressed the emotional toll of constant threats and harassment. Families reported living in fear, with women and children particularly vulnerable. Some villagers stated that they were afraid to leave their homes unattended, worrying that their fields might be occupied in their absence. Others described the anxiety of dealing with false police cases, which not only drain their limited financial resources but also cause reputational damage within their communities.

Observers noted that the villagers’ choice to protest in front of the Sukkur National Press Club was strategic. By staging their demonstration at such a visible and symbolic location, they hoped to attract media coverage and draw the attention of policymakers in Karachi and Islamabad. “When local authorities fail us, we turn to the media and the public,” a protestor explained. “We believe that if our voices are heard widely, the government will be forced to act.”

The villagers made it clear that they are not willing to give up their struggle. They vowed to continue peaceful protests until their grievances are addressed. “We are not asking for charity,” said Khadim Mahar, one of the leaders. “We are only asking for our legal rights and protection from harassment. If the authorities remain silent, we will intensify our protests.”

Analysts say this case, if ignored, risks deepening mistrust between rural communities and government institutions. It may also embolden land grabbers in other parts of Sindh to continue their practices unchecked. Conversely, timely intervention by the government could set an example and restore confidence among citizens that justice is possible, even against influential individuals.

The protest concluded with renewed calls for justice. The demonstrators dispersed peacefully after submitting a written petition to local journalists, hoping their plight would be reported widely and prompt swift government response. As they left, many expressed both hope and skepticism—hope that their voices would finally reach the ears of powerful decision-makers, and skepticism because they had seen many such protests in the past with little concrete outcome.

For now, the villagers of Goth Haji Jadal Mahar remain in limbo, caught between the threats of influential land grabbers and the slow-moving machinery of justice. Their protest in Sukkur is not only a fight for a piece of land but also a struggle for dignity, survival, and the principle that even the poor have the right to justice.