KARACHI: The country’s biggest industrial complex — Sind Industrial Trading Estate (SITE) — came to a standstill yesterday [Jan 5] when over 20,000 workers belonging to about two dozen industries struck work and “gheraoed” their respective top bosses for fulfilment of their “just and genuine” demands.

Appeals by leaders of the ruling People’s Party did not wholly succeed in [restraining] the workers from the ‘Gherao’ tactics which they thought was the only way to get their demands accepted.

Their main demands were: reinstatement of retrenched workers, increase in salary, full medical facilities and grant of two and a half percent share in profit.

According to a conservative estimate, about 45,000 workers have been retrenched in Karachi alone under proclamation of Martial Law by Yahya Khan’s regime. The labour situation in Karachi deteriorated due to the inactivity of the previous Government while the managements continued their retrenchment policy. … — Newspaper’s staff correspondent

[Meanwhile, as reported by the newspaper’s staff correspondent from Rawalpindi] There were strong rumours here today [Jan 5] that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman may leave for East Pakistan sooner than expected — before noon tomorrow — by a special United Nations plane.

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2022