ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: Hundreds of protestors, including employees of Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) on Tuesday staged a sit-in inside the red-zone area on Tuesday to oppose the government decision to privatise Qadirpur Gas Field and vowed that they would not let the gas field privatised.

Some Member of National Assembly from PML-N also joined them.

Their participation was appreciated by the protestors, and some speakers demanded of them to take practical steps.

Earlier, over 700 workers under different unions gathered in front of OGDCL building and marched towards Parliament House.

But they were intercepted by the law enforcers in the middle of the Parade Ground.

The protestors were carrying placards and banners inscribed with anti-privatization, anti-government slogans, which they also chanted during the march.

Dozens of police officials under the command of a Superintendent of Police, along with an assistant commissioner, and four assistant and deputy superintendents of police were present there behind the cemented barricades and barbed wire to stop the protestors from reaching their destination.

Ambulances and fire engines were also put on standby at the spot to deal with any untoward situation.

On the occasion the speakers said that if the gas field got privatized it would affect farmers to investors. The prices of gas and patrol will increase by 300 per cent if the field were sold to foreign company.

MNA from PML-N, Anjum Aqeel, while speaking said the government had failed to fulfil the promises made with the people, resulting in loss of trust in it. The Saudi government also refused to help Pakistan, he added.

PML-N Ahsan Iqbal restricted his speech to the deposed chief justice, former president Gen (retired) Pervez Musharaf and his policies.

However, he said the PML-N would remain with the labourers, including employees of OGDCL and opposed the privatization of any company.

He criticized the Industrial Relations Ordinance and said it was passed by the Senate and need to be amended.

The protestors announced to continue the sit-in until the government withdraws the privatization decision.