February 17, 2003	Monday	Zul Hijjah 15, 1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

SUKKUR, Feb 16: Chairman of the action committee formed to protect the rights of over 350 employees of the Sui Southern Gas Company, who were forcibly laid off by the company, Inam Shaikh, in a press statement issued here on Saturday criticized the SSGC for defying the decision of the Federal Services Tribunal.

The tribunal had directed the SSGC to reinstate all of the sacked employees about six months ago.

Regretting the company’s policy to ignore the directives of the tribunal, said that the litigation, initiated by the company, was putting unnecessary burden on the shoulders of the poor unemployed youth.

Criticizing the political parties for doing nothing in this regard, he said that the People’s Lawyers Forum, a conglomeration of lawyers supporting the PPP, had not extended any help to the sacked workers of the SSGC.

Mr Inam said that it seemed that Sindh and Balochistan were being treated as mere colonies, as only the employees of the two provinces were being sacked, while the workers in the NWFP and Punjab were being retained.

He said that ironically only Sindh and Balochistan were rich in hydrocarbon resources but the people of these provinces were being deprived of employment opportunities.

He said that such discriminatory policy had already resulted in disturbance at the Sui field, adding that if the authorities did not adopt a just policy, such a situation may also arise in Sindh.

Karo-kari: A local landlord, Manzoor Ahmed, man was killed and a woman, Ms. Sakina, was injured after five gunmen opened fire on them in the Kadirabad village near Rohri over the pretext of karo-kari.

According to details, Manzoor Ahmed Dharejo, a local landlord, and Ms. Sakina, wife of Gulab Dharejo, were sitting under a tree when gunmen opened fire on them.

The police have registered a case against five persons, including Hidayatullah, Ghulam Ali and Laloo (all Dharejos by caste). No arrest was reported.

Power suspension: The Hesco, Sukkur, on Saturday announced that electricity supply will be suspended from its 11-KV Shahi Bazaar and New Barrage feeders between Feb 17 and Feb 19 for the purpose of new construction work at the Chapri Road and Thalla, Sukkur.

During the shut-down, the following areas will be affected: Bagh Hayat Ali Shah, Shaheed Ganj, Anaj Bazaar, Katti Bazaar, Shaikh Sheen Road, Queens Road, Walice Road, Shahi Bazar and the Sarafa Bazar on Feb 17, from 9am to 12noon.

Similarly, the electricity supply will also be affected to the area of Queens Road on Feb 18 and Walice Road, Shahi Bazar and Sarafa Bazar on Feb 19 from 9am to 12noon, respectively.

PROJECTS: The government has earmarked Rs2.631 million under block allocation / ADP for carrying out repair and construction work on four road schemes of the Ubauro taluka in Ghotki district.

According to the break-up, Rs1.125 million would be spent on road between Khameso Chachar and Mazhar Chachar, Rs861,000 on the road from NHA to Jamshed Mahar via Jamia Masjid Solangi, Rs246,000 on road from Rounti to Dubli, and Rs399,000 on road from Ubauro to Mathar Kot, respectively.