ISLAMABAD, Dec 23: Former prime minister and Chairperson of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Benazir Bhutto has expressed concern that Karachi could face a power shutdown if the government failed to initiate a dialogue with the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) union.

About 3,000 KESC workers have threatened a protest march against privatization of the company because they were not association in the privatisation discussions and policy.

In retaliation, they have warned that if the regime went ahead with the company's privatisation they will respond to the move with a blackout. In a statement on Thursday, Ms Bhutto said the threat meant that the entire city of Karachi and its adjoining areas could plunge into darkness. She asked the regime to take immediate notice and begin negotiations with the KESC union.

According to reports, the movement by KESC workers had entered a new phase when thousands of workers marched through the city centre carrying banners and placards opposing the company's privatization.

"There is fear among the unions that the corporation employees could lose their jobs due to privatisation. People have been committing suicides due to increase in unemployment and poverty level since the popularly elected government of Benazir Bhutto was overthrown," she said.

"The continuous neglect of governance has led to increasing frustration. Paramedical staff have also demonstrated demanding pay rise. Meanwhile, regular newspaper workers are set to demonstrate in front of provincial parliament against delay in pay raise."

The PPP chairperson said derailing of democracy was having deleterious effects on the socio-economic fabric of the country and called for empowerment of the people through their genuinely elected representatives to ensure political stability and well- being of the country.

Meanwhile, Pakistan People's Party has condemned the suspension of four district nazims in Sindh as an attempt to impose a one-party dictatorship in the country. The suspension on Wednesday of the four district nazims in Sindh, all belonging to the PPP, is aimed at further restricting political space to the party, said PPP spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar in a statement on Thursday.

"The country's democratic forces would oppose the moves to impose one-party dictatorship in the country. The suspended nazims have decided to appeal their suspension, as the party will move court against gerrymandering in the districts, the spokesman said.

He said the disruption of party plans to welcome Asif Ali Zardari at the Islamabad airport on December 21 contrasted with allowing the religious parties to hold public meetings just two days before was a case in point.