Square one: Outcast workers take sit-in back to KESC

Utility says they are in contempt of court.

KARACHI:

The tug of war between the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) and its reinstated workers sent to the surplus pool took a volatile turn on Thursday after the disgruntled men parked themselves outside the head office at Gizri.

KESC’s spokesman Amin-ur Rehman said that the armed workers had gathered around the head office and they had held staff and senior management hostage. The workers had also entered the premises and did not allow any staffer or officer to go home after work. These claims were refuted by KESC labour union’s Akhlaque Ahmed who told The Express Tribune that they were being peaceful. They had decided to continue with the sit-in at Gizri and the Karachi Press Club until the management announces that the surplus pool workers can go back to work.

A large police posse stood around.

Akhlaque alleged that KESC’s Brig. (retd) Masood had tried to “drive over” two workers. TPO Tariq Dharejo had been at the spot and was informed of the situation, he added.

Meanwhile, KESC’s spokesman said that this had prevented them from working properly and that the protesters were challenging section 144 against gathering there. The sit-in was also in violation to the orders of the Sindh High Court, which had declared the strike as illegal and unjustified, he said. The union leaders had also been served contempt of court notices.





Published in The Express Tribune, June 10th, 2011.