DADU, Oct 16: The failure of BHP Oil and Gas Company to recruit locals and carry out development work forced people and political activists of various villages of Johi taluka to hold demonstration on Thursday.

President Johi Awami Ittehad Qurban Khokhar, PML-N leader Ghulam Rasool and social worker Mushtaq Ahmed lambasted the administration of BHP for not hiring area people in Zamzama Gas Plant though they were drilling oil and gas since 1998. They said that the employees working at the plant were from different provinces.

They criticised the BHP of not spending 15 per cent of the income of oil and gas fields on the development of area though it had entered into an agreement with the ministry of petroleum and natural resources.

They appealed to President Asif Zardai and the BHP chief to take notice of this discrepancy and direct administration to appoint local people and carry out development works.