PESHAWAR: Awami National Party has condemned termination of about 4,500 employees of Pakistan Steel Mills and asked the government to reverse its decision and stop ‘economic murder’ of people.

ANP central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain in a statement here on Sunday said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf used to raise voice against privatisation of PSM in the past but it sacked the employees when it came into power. It proved difference in the words and deeds of the rulers, he added.

“The nation is going through unprecedented times, particularly due to the Covid-19 pandemic and sacking of people is sheer injustice. The government should be focusing on providing relief instead,” he said.

The ANP leader said that on one hand Prime Minister Imran Khan was talking about reviving state institutions, strengthening of economy and providing relief to the poor people but on the other his government was taking such cruel steps.

Mr Hussain said that instead of creating 10 million jobs, the government was snatching livelihoods from people at a time when food insecurity was on its peak in the country. He said that PTI government was bent upon privatising different profit earning organisations that would increase joblessness in the country.

He said that government failed to run the country’s affairs and had the only option to implement what International Monetary Fund was directing it. He said that such policies would force people to take to streets against the rulers.

The ANP leader said that it would be better for the government to reverse its ‘anti-people’ decisions otherwise Pakistan Democratic Movement was determined to get the nation rid of such ‘incompetent’ rulers as early as possible.

Mr Hussain also condemned arrest of political workers in Multan and said that government was using police force against the opposition parties which was totally undemocratic attitude and intolerable.

He demanded immediate release of the arrested people and opening gates of the venue of the PDM public meeting.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2020