LESCO workers continue protest

Protests have been peaceful, apart from a scuffle on Tuesday

LAHORE: Members of the All Pakistan WAPDA Hydro Electric Union (CBA) continued their protests for the third day on Wednesday against privatisation in front of the LESCO Headquarters on Queen’s Road.

“The protests have been peaceful, apart from a scuffle yesterday (Tuesday) near the residence of Mansha Ali. A meeting was scheduled to take place there between some private contractors and the LESCO management,” Osama Tariq, the union’s information secretary, said. He said union leaders had resolved the matter.

“We will continue our protest because we want to send a clear message to the government that we are not going to back down. The government must agree to talk to us,” he said.Khurshid Ahmed, the union’s general secretary, demanded that the government discontinue its privatisation policy. “Oil, electricity and gas are basic necessities. Their ownership should be in public hands,” he said.

He condemned the killing of 41 people in Karachi and expressed his condolences with the families of those who had lost their lives. He urged the government to take immediate action to arrest the culprits.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2015.