BADIN, June 21: A large number of people from all over the district held a demonstration outside the Khaskheli oil fields on Tuesday in protest against what they called denial of jobs to local people and non-sharing of profit by the British Petroleum management. The president of the Badin Rural Development Society, Dr Akash Ansari, Sindh National Council leader Dr Dodo Mehiri, and representatives of some NGOs led the procession.

The protesters, including women and children, raised slogans against officials of the company for depriving the local talent of its rights and awarding contracts of different works to people from Punjab.

They demanded that only the local people should be given skilled and non-skilled jobs.

They demanded that the oil company should pay Rs37 billion, one per cent of the total profit on oil and gas since 1980, to the district government for development works.

They said the district was rich in resources but deprived of its rights. As a result there was abject poverty among the people.

They demanded that an investigation should be held about funds utilized in the name of community development in the district.

Dr Ansari said the people would not give up their rights which they possessed under the international law.

He said if the company and its contractors did not change their attitude to local people, every person would play his or her due role against the exploitation.

When contacted by Dawn, Tariq Khamisani, president of the company in Islamabad was not available.

A man on the other side said that Mr Khamisani was out of the country.