LARKANA: Power utility workers in Larkana circle observed a strike on Tuesday against registration of an electrocution case against five senior officials while their counterparts in Sukkur circle also observed a strike against attacks on their offices and colleagues over the past few weeks.

Members of the Wapda Hydroelectric central labour union did not turn up on their duties in Larkana circle against registration of an FIR against superintendent engineer Nazeer Ahmed Soomro, SDO Allahditto Sohu, line superintendent Akhtiar Sohu, a grid station head and a line-man after two villagers were electrocuted on May 17. The officials claim that the villagers were tampering with power lines when electrocuted.

The protesting workers also staged a token hunger strike and suspended power supply to a vast area of Larkana district through three gird stations for four hours, from 11am to 3pm, to register their protest.

Mehmood Pathan, the spokesman for the labour union, said that work in all offices of the Sukkur Electric Power Compnay across Larkana circle remained suspended due to the protest.

Speaking at a big gathering of workers in the Old Power House building, union leaders condemned what they called ‘registration of a concocted FIR’ against the officials, and claimed that the local MPA was involved in implicating them in the case.

They announced a complete lockout in the entire Sepco region on Wednesday and suspend power supply to consumers if the FIR was not withdrawn.

When asked why they were punishing consumers in their dispute with relatives of the deceased villagers, the labour leaders said “if we are not provided security, all we can do is to stop power supply to consumers”.

SUKKUR: In the Sukkur circle, Sepco workers stopped work on Tuesday in protest against registration of the case and continuing attacks on their offices and colleagues by people protesting against loadshedding, breakdowns and inflated bills.

They condemned police for registering a case against senior officials and other employees and alleged that it was being done under pressure from power thieves. In such a situation, power theft could not be checked, they added.

Wapda Hydroelectric Workers Union hoisted a black flag atop the main Sepco office in Jacobabad and wore balck armbands. They also locked Sepco offices.

Their leaders told the media that power utility workers were supposed to comply with the orders of their employers but they were attacked while discharging their duties. They said the workers were already handling a highly risky job to ensure power supply to consumers by putting their life at risk and were subject to the additional threat from unruly protesters.

They demanded immediate withdrawal of the case and security to all officials and workers of the power utility.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2014