July 20, 2008	Sunday	Rajab 16, 1429

KARAK, July 19: The people of Terri took out a procession and stopped work on the gas and oil fields in the area to protest against what they said the failure of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and gas exploration companies to honour commitments made with them about provision of gas to the area.

Shopkeepers also pulled down shutters and observed a complete strike to express solidarity with the protesters.

The procession, led by Terri Gas Action Committee chairman Nawabzada Farooq Ahmad, started from the old Lorry Adda and terminated at Shankai Adda.

Speakers on the occasion said they would not allow the officials and vehicles of the companies to enter Terri Union Council jurisdiction until the promises made with the people were fulfilled.

They said that the SNGPL and MOL gas company had announced in a meeting with the locals and the district administration on June 24 that gas would be supplied first to those areas of Terri where the pipeline had already been laid, while rest of the areas of the union council would get the facility in the later stage, but no action was taken to this effect.

The speakers also criticised the gas companies for not giving jobs to the people of the area, saying that they would no longer rely on hollow promises.

They said that the companies had not accommodated even one per cent locals in jobs, so far.

They demanded that the companies should fix 30 per cent quota in jobs for the residents of the area.

They said that the poor farmers and land owners should be compensated for their land according to the market value.

They announced that the work would remain stopped and the officials and vehicles of SNGPL, MOL and Discon companies would not be allowed to enter the union council unless the demands were met.