KARACHI, June 25: Army is still deployed at the international gateway exchange and other sensitive installations of the Pakistan Telecommunication Company. PTCL union leaders have alleged that the troops stationed at telephone exchanges and other buildings were extremely ill-disposed towards the workers. Army took over the PTCL international gateway exchange on June 11 for fear that protesting workers might seek to disrupt the telecommunication network of the country.

“Latecomers are made to stand in the sun by the army troops stationed at PTCL buildings. Similarly bad treatment is meted out to low-ranking PTCL officials while seniors and officers look on,” said a union leader.

He said workers might try to vent their anger once the army had gone.

But a spokesman for the Inter-Services Public Relations denied that late-coming PTCL workers were made to stand in the sun. “I am not aware of any such thing,” he said.

The spokesman said troops would continue to guard the international gateway exchange and other sensitive installations of the PTCL till they were ordered to move out.

He said the troops could provide technical support to the PTCL and run the utility’s installations in case protesting workers attempted to disrupt telecommunication services.

He said it was the fourth time in the history of the country that the army had taken over the PTCL.