KARACHI, March 16: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Thursday called for protecting the interests of the workers of the privatized institutions, saying workers form the backbone of economy and any injustice against them will not be acceptable.

In a statement issued from London, he took strong exception to instances of sacking of employees. In fact, one of the party’s coordination committee members had led a delegation to a private bank management to protest against the sacking of employees.

Mr Hussain said the MQM was not against the process of privatization, but it had already made it clear that privatization should not be made in a manner that workers of the privatized institutions are rendered jobless, and they start facing starvation.

He said it was the government’s duty in a civilized society to provide jobs to people and not to form policies which result in the removal of employees.

He said poor and middle class workers of public banks, industrial establishments or financial institutions could not be blamed for the state of affairs in these institutions, as they did not cause any harm to these institutions, but the corrupt rulers, corrupt politicians, generals, waderas and capitalists led these institutions to bankruptcy.

“They looted money, and obtained loans worth billions of rupees which were later written off,” he said, adding when these institutions were declared bankrupt, these were sold at throwaway prices, and in this process, employees were not taken into confidence, and their interests were not safeguarded.

Mr Hussain said those who usurped public money and made these institutions bankrupt, were given no punishment, and were still enjoying perks, while after privatization of these institutions, workers belonging to poor and middle classes were rendered jobless, and were given punishment for those ills.

The MQM chief further said that the removal of employees was an injustice, and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement was with workers in their cause.