Expressing Discontent: OGDCL employees protest privatisation

members of chapter protested against the privatisation of 10% shares of OGDCL

KOHAT: Members of the All Pakistan Labour Union Kohat chapter protested against the privatisation of 10% shares of Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and blocked the Indus Highway near Nashpa Oil Field on Saturday. The protest was led by the union’s central president, Chaudhry Muhammad Akram, and vice president Abdur Rashid along with a large number of OGDCL employees participated. They were later joined by PTI MPA from Karak Malik Qasim. Demanding that the government take the decision of privatisation back, the demonstrators blocked the Indus Highway creating a huge traffic jam on both sides of the major road. Addressing the protesters, VP Abdur Rashid said OGDCL employees will never accept the government’s decision because it was “an act of cruelty towards the people.” Adviser to the CM Malik Qasim arrived at the site and assured the disgruntled employees that he would raise the issue in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. He said their protest had been recorded after which the protesters dispersed peacefully.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2014.