ISLAMABAD: A large number of employees of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) on Wednesday held protest against the killing of their colleagues in the line of duty.

They staged a sit-in at Aabpara Chowk for six hours and finally dispersed on the assurance of Inspector General of Police (IGP) that suspects will be arrested soon.

On Tuesday the two Iesco officials, Ansar Wadood and Anwar Zada, were shot dead after they discovered an illegal electricity connection at a a plastic recycling factory in Sohan area.

They were both employees of the army-run Federal Investigation Unit (FIU) of the Iesco which collects information on power theft.

After making the discovery, they left the factory and were inspecting other connections when unidentified person(s) opened fire.

Water and Power Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif announced Rs2.5 million for the deceased families.

On Wednesday Iesco employees started reaching at Aabpara chowk at 9am and at 10am they completely blocked the chowk.

Although the Iesco management do not participate in the protests of the employees, all officers including Chief Executive Iesco Yousuf Awan also participated in the protest and showed solidarity with the employees.

Regional Secretary of All Pakistan Hydro Workers Union Haji Zahir Gul, while speaking to protesters, demanded that the killers of both the employees should be arrested immediately and their families should be given Rs5 million.

Protesters dispersed only after IGP Tahir Alam Khan assured that the suspects would soon be arrested.

Mr Gul while talking to Dawn said that the union would try to get the family members of the deceased employed in the electricity organisation.

“Protests were also held in different cities including Chakwal and Jhelum,” he said.

Published in Dawn March 12th , 2015

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