HYDERABAD, Aug 6: The SITE Area Action Committee took out a big procession from Hyder Chowk to the press club here on Friday to protest against emission of poisonous smoke from chimneys of the Zeal Pak Cement Factory.

Speaking on the occasion, People's Party Parliamentarians MPA Zahid Ali Bhurgari said that recently many people had died after consuming contaminated water in the city and emission of smoke from the chimneys of the factory was causing TB to the area residents.

He demanded that the authorities concerned should direct the factory management to take steps to stop the emission of poisonous smoke. He also demanded that the local people should be given jobs in the mills located in the SITE area of Hyderabad.

PPP leader Aftab Ahmed Khanzada claimed that 20 people had become blind due to the emission of poisonous smoke. He warned that if the factory failed to stop the emission of poisonous smoke in 15 days, the area people would close the factory.

Pasban leader Mohammad Hussain warned that if the emission of poisonous smoke was not stopped in a week, the members of the action committee would besiege the office of the Latifabad taluka nazim. Others who spoke on the occasion included Mohammad Arshad Arain, Ali Mohammad and Sikandar Hayat.

STPP: Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party activists from Kotri held a protest demonstration outside the press club here on Friday. They were protesting against the Lackson Tobacco Company for violating labour laws and lodging of false cases against labour leaders Shabbir Magsi, Shahid Solangi and Usman Dal.