20000317

17 trucks

carrying 2,200

wheat bags

seized

RECORDER REPORT

HYDERABAD: The Local Food Department officials and Baldia police here on Thursday seized 17 trucks loaded with 2,200 bags of wheat which were on their way to Karachi to meet the shortage of wheat in the megapolis.

Since 10 a.m. up to 8.15 p.m. the trucks were standing on the National Highway under police guard.

The truck owners and drivers told newsmen at the Hyderabad Press Club that they had shown the order of Sindh Food Director about transportation of wheat to Karachi and also the government orders published in various newspapers lifting the ban on the movement of wheat till Eid-ul-Azha. But the SHO of Baldia police station and Food Department officials refused to accept any argument.

They said due to seizure of trucks they would notbe able to celebrate Eid tomorrow.

They also distributed copies of letter dated March 16, addressed to the Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana and Mirpurkhas divisions commissioners signed by Sindh Food Director Sohail Akbar Shah.

The subject matter of the letter is "lifting of section 144 Cr PC on inter-district movement of wheat."

The letter reads, "In order to overcome the wheat scarcity in open market of Karachi, section 144 Cr PC imposed on inter-district movement of wheat has been lifted during Eid days. Please instruct all the deputy commissioners of your division to allow movement of wheat to Karachi without any hindrance."