LAHORE, Oct 11: The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited has requested the army to be ready to run the communication system if its employees go ahead with their threat of a complete strike from the 14th of this month.

In a letter to the army high command, the PTCL management requested that the army should be prepared for an emergency take over of the system in case of the strike. PTCL management has described it as a precautionary step to be taken in case there is no breakthrough in talks with the employees union.

After a breakdown of talks on Friday the union, already on a two-hour token strike, has threatened to go on a countrywide complete strike if its demands are not met by Wednesday. The demands include 15 per cent increase in salary, regularization of daily wage earners, restoration of quota system and medical facilities.