Trawlers involved in illegal fishing have once again begun operating in Gwadar as leaders of rights movement Haq Do Tehreek, that held protests against illegal fish trawling, remain behind bars.
Founded by Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman, Haq Do Tehreek (HDT) is a protest movement against the government with issues comprising illegal trawling in Gwadar’s water, a high number of security checkpoints, and trade on the Pak-Iran border among others.
Several HDT leaders are currently in jail, including Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman.
مولانا ہدایت الرحمن بلوچ کو جیل میں ڈالنےکا مقصد پورا ہوگیا۔ دن دہاڑے غیرقانونی ٹرالنگ پھر سےجاری ہے
مولانا کی جدوجہد غریب ماہی گیروں کےروزگار کےحوالے سےتھی اورمسلسل احتجاج کی وجہ سےٹرالر دن چھوڑیں رات کو بھی آنےسے پہلے 100بار سوچتےتھے، اور نایاب مچھلیاں بھی ساحل سے ملنےلگی تھیں pic.twitter.com/zbbLGWlaPB— Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman Baloch (@MHidayatRehman) April 26, 2023
Several charges were brought up against Rehman after talks between the HDT’s leaders and the military commanders in Balochistan failed over the protest demonstrations organised by the movement against illegal trawling.
In 2020, the government had banned fishing and trawling off the Gwadar coast after talks with protesters from the local fishing community. However, the government was unable to curtail the practice. In 2021, thousands of people had staged a series of protests in the port city under the banner of the Haq Do Tehreek.
Local fishermen complain trawlers deprive them of their livelihood. Trawling also destroys the natural seafloor habitat.
The trawlers in Gwadar are usually owned by powerful businessmen, retired army officers and politicians.
