15 January 2005	Saturday	04 Zilhaj 1425

THATTA, Jan 14: Employees of the Thatta Sugar Mills held a protest demonstration here on Friday, demanding acceptance of their demands. Their demands include payment of golden handshake amount and other dues , inquiry into theft of mill's machinery and restarting of the mill

Activists of various political parties and NGOs also participated in the protest. Led by Thatta Sugar Mills Action Committee chairman Syed Asadullah Shah, the employees, wearing handcuffs, took out a procession which marched through the main bazaar.

Later, they staged a sit-in on the National Highway outside the press club. Speaking on the occasion, Asadullah Shah, Gul Mohammad Jherk, Hanif Thaheem, Sahib Khan Khoso and others said families of the employees were facing starvation due to closure of the mill for 10 years but elected representatives had taken no measures to make the mill operational.

They threatened to hold demonstrations every Friday till their demands were accepted. They announced to observe a hunger strike on Eid day.