Senator demands jobs for locals in Tarbela Dam project

PML-N senator says dam management had assured employment for Ghazi residents

HARIPUR:

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Senator Pir Sabir Shah has said that he will take up with high-ups the issue regarding the recruitment of locals of Ghazi in the Tarbela dam extension project.

After meeting the residents of the Ghazi area, he expressed his reservation over the arrest of people by the police for raising their voice seeking jobs in the project.

He also said that protest was the democratic right of the people, but protesters should not have taken the law into their hands.

Senator Pir Sabir Shah said that it was unfortunate that social activist Irum Rasheed has also been arrested by the police. “I appreciate the spirit of Irum Rashid. Her aim is to help locals in getting employment in the area. However, they should have protested peacefully, he said, adding that he has talked to the DPO, who told him that an FIR has been registered against 150 protesters and 20 arrests have been made.

The PML-N senator said that he has asked the police not to make further arrests to cool down the tense situation in the area that has arisen after yesterday's police action. “Police officials have agreed to my request not to make further arrests,” he said.

Read Minister for hiring local people in Tarbela project

He said that a few days back successful negotiations had been held with the chief engineer of the Tarbela dam extension project and other members of the management, who had assured to accommodate locals on posts of lower cadre.

“Recruitment is the right of the people of the area. I hope we will come up with a strategy to prevent the happenings of such incidents in the future,” said the PML-N senator.

On Thursday, police baton-charged and arrested around 25 persons after they blocked a road in protest seeking jobs in the Tarbela dam extension project. At least 12 protesters had also sustained injuries after the police baton-charged them.

The protesters, who were led by social activist Irum Rasheed Tahirkheli, had staged a sit-in at the main gate of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) building in Ghazi and blocked the road.

They were protesting against what they said non-inclusion of locals in the hiring process. The protesters chanted slogans against Tarbela dam management and continued their sit-in for five hours.

The police resorted to baton-charge after the protesters refused to end their sit-in. Sources said that efforts were under way to secure the release of the arrested protesters.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th, 2021.