KARACHI, Jan 22: The Pakistan Muslim League labour wing leaders and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal MNAs expressed annoyance over retrenchment of thousands of workers of different departments, demanding government to reinstate them and withdraw privatisation policy.

In their statements issued on Monday, PML Labour Wing Sindh Chapter President Muhammad Arif Hassan and Karachi city general secretary Syed Zulfiqar Shah said the retrenchment of over 1,000 employees of Habib Bank Limited would not resolve issues rather it would earn bad name to the government.

The PML labour leaders said the agenda of Pakistan Muslim League was based on elimination of poverty and joblessness from the country. They said the government had taken concrete and effective measures in this regard.

They pointed out some elements wanted to create gulf between people and government to get their personal interests. They also expressed concern over retrenchment of 3,750 workers of Karachi Dockyard, 1,000 employees of PTCL and proposed privatization of the PSO, terming them anti-labourer steps.

Arif Hassan and Zulfiqar Shah demanded president and prime minister to revive their policies in this regard, and cancel privatization of PSO. Besides, they urged the government to take notice of en-masse sacking of workers.

Separately, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal MNAs Muhammad Hussain Mehnati and Laeeq Khan termed retrenchment of some 1,000 workers from Habib Bank Limited a socio-economic genocide of the masses.

They said on time of privatisation the buyers of HBL had assured that no worker would be retrenched. MMA MNAs demanded the HBL authorities to reinstate the retrenched workers.—PPI