QUETTA, Sept 30: A strike by Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation employees since Monday has badly affected the operation of its system and caused hardship to people. A token hunger strike by the employees continued for the 17th day on Thursday.

Leaders of the employees said the protest would continue till the PTCL management regularized the services of 511 daily wage workers according to a decision of the federal government that had made the services of 7,193 employees permanent in other provinces.

They said that while the services of the corporation's daily wage workers had been regularized in other provinces, those in Balochistan were being denied their right.

Speaking at the protest camp, they said that according to Telecommunication Minister Owais Ahmed Leghari the PTCL's revenue during 2003-04 was Rs30 billion but its management was reluctant to give the employees in the province their right.

They appealed to the president, the prime minister, the telecommunication minister and the Pakistan Muslim League President to take notice of the discriminatory policy of the PTCL.