LAHORE: The All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union has appealed to the high-ups of Lahore Electric Supply Company to hold an independent inquiry into the death of assistant lineman in Mahmood Booti sub-division.

Muhammad Yasin had got head injuries on Friday after receiving electric shocks and falling on the ground while working on a transformer. He was taken to the Lahore General Hospital where he breathed his last on Saturday.

A large number of Lesco field staff offered the funeral prayers for the deceased and later gathered at Labour Hall to hold a condolence meeting.

Participants in the meeting demanded all those responsible for asking Yasin to work on the transformer without shutting down the power supply should be brought to book.

Through a resolution, the meeting demanded the Lesco management ensure provision of safe working conditions to the overworked line staff to prevent such accidents in future. It also called for payment of Rs2.5m ex-gratia, full pension, double monthly grant and provision of employment to Yasin’s widow as per agreement with the union.

Presided over by union secretary general Khurshid Ahmad, the meeting passed a resolution expressing concern over the rising number of accidents resulting in death of more than 100 field staff this year. The number of victims suffering permanent disabilities every year had been much more, it said, urging the government to ensure provision of safety equipment at workplace.

Khurshid Ahmed demanded special measures to ensure safe working conditions for workers by arranging professional trainings for them and providing them with modern safety equipment.

Urging workers to refuse to work in case they were not provided with safety gadgets, he asked them to provide the consumers with better services.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2017