KARACHI, June 16: A large number of people took out a rally to protest against the privatization of the Pakistan Telecommunications Corporation Limited (PTCL) and demanded that the precious and sensitive national asset should not be handed over to private parties, particularly the foreigners.

The rally was organized by the Anti-Privatization Alliance, and started from the Regal Chowk in Saddar and the protesters after passing through various city roads came to the Karachi Press Club.

On the occasion, a statement of the PTCL employees CBA Union spokesperson was read out which said that the workers had rejected the privatization package being offered by the government.

It claimed that under the said package status of over 16,000 NPS employees would be changed and they would immediately become temporary. It said that none of the nine unions, which had formed the Unions Action Committee, had accepted the package.

Some unions which have accepted the package had never been a part of the Unions Action Committee, the statement said.

It also supported the complete shutdown warning given by the unions in case the government did not call off its privatization drive of the PTCL.

The APA comprises: PPP, Pakistan Workers Confederation, ANP, National Trade Union Federation, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, KESC Labour Union, Labour Party Pakistan, National Workers Party, Communist Party of Pakistan, Pakistan Trade Union Federation, Railway Workers Federation, International Socialist Pakistan, Socialist Movement, etc.