SUKKUR, Oct 21: Hesco employees staged a rally outside the press club here on Tuesday to protest against the Presidential Ordinance, 2000.

Speaking at the rally, Pakistan Wapda Employees Paigham Union secretary-general Aijaz Ahmad Shaikh said Wapda had been converted into a forced labour camp.

He said the ordinance had given more powers to Wapda officers who were suspending staff members and taking actions against them to conceal their corruption. He said no chance was given to an employee who was punished to clarify his position.

He said it was employees’ right to be posted at the nearest place to their home but they were being transferred to far-flung areas.

Mr Shaikh said line superintendents, meter readers and linemen were being harassed by issuing them with what he called unjustified show-cause notices.

He said employees were being forced to perform duties on holidays for which they were not paid overtime.

The union leader warned that protests would be held throughout the country if the Wapda authorities did not stop anti-workers policies.