KARACHI, Feb 10: Referring to the situation where condition of two of the KESC employees on a fast-unto-death deteriorated on Thursday, opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro accused the military-led KESC management of deliberately plunging the utility into a crisis to justify its sale at a throw-away price.

Addressing a press conference in his assembly chamber, Mr Khuhro said that the privatization of KESC would adversely affect 19,000 employees, push up the power tariff and cost of industrial production, besides making power consumers' life more miserable.

He did not rule out possibility of the opposition giving a call for strike or protest rallies against the move, and warned that the opposition might seek a requisition session of the Sindh Assembly if the decision was not reversed.

Mr Khuhro apprehended that the KESC privatization and the ultimate rise in power tariff could lead to the closure of small industries, aggravating the already serious problem of unemployment.

He alleged that the KESC assets worth Rs80 billion had been sold for only Rs16 billion. The annual receivables of the utility were Rs22 billion, he added.

The opposition leader also accused the government of transacting KESC to meet World Bank's conditionality. He pointed out that the government's claim that electricity rates would not be increased as a result of the KESC privatization was nullified by the tariff hike the very next day the utility was privatized. It also exposed the government's claim that it had done away with the begging bowl, he remarked.

Criticizing the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Mr Khuhro recalled that it had threatened to quit the coalition on many issues but not on the KESC privatization.

He slammed the government for its 'indifferent attitude' towards the KESC workers who were observing fast-unto-death outside the Karachi Press Club for many days.

He supported the workers' demand that for a high-level inquiry into the process of KESC privatization and handover.

Lateef Mughal, General Secretary of the People's Labour Union, drew the attention of general public to the fast-unto-death being observed by 14 KESC workers, and said that if their struggle was ignored, every citizen might be subjected to such highhandedness by the government.

He urged the government to accept the demands put forward by KESC employees with regard to the privatization of the utility, working conditions, regularization of contractual staff, job security and guarantee, and restoration of trade union activities.