RAWALPINDI, Dec 5: Government contractors on Friday threatened to stop work on the ongoing uplift projects across Punjab in protest against the illegal arrest of their colleagues in Faisalabad and the attitude of the provincial authorities.

Speaking at a press conference, Senior Vice-Chairman of the Federation of Government Contractors Welfare Association, Punjab chapter, Abdul Hafeez Chaudhry said the Punjab government was harassing contractors without any reason and threatened to stop work on government projects after Eidul Azha.

“We contractors cannot work in a terror-like situation. Punjab government gains political objectives by taking populist measures. We warn the provincial authorities to refrain from harassing us otherwise there would be no work on government schemes in the development sector,” Chaudhry Hafeez said.

He alleged that the Punjab government failed to pay arrears amounting to billions of rupees to contractors which was why the provincial government was implicating innocent contractors and government officers in false cases.

“We know that all contractors are not sacred cows but it does not mean to arrest somebody without any warrant. The government must expect outcome from contractors according to the agreement,” Mr Hafeez said.

The contractors’ forum unanimously agreed to boycott work on all ongoing development projects in the province in case the Punjab government failed to provide security to contractors and warned to launch movement against the authorities.

“Contractors sometimes commit mistakes but not fraud. We should be fined or penalised for mistakes but how can the Punjab government illegally arrest innocent contractors,” Mr Hafeez said.

The contractors’ forum demanded immediate release of contractors and government officials, arguing that there was no proof available with the Punjab government to justify the arrest of innocent contractors.

He said the government must ensure presence of the contractors concerned before inspecting a project, adding that in majority of the cases the government officials inspected a project unilaterally without informing the contractor.

They demanded of the government to pay the arrears to contractors as soon as possible otherwise they would not be able to continue work on the development projects.