ISLAMABAD, Feb 4: The opposition on Friday staged a token walkout from the Senate in protest against the privatization of the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) and in solidarity with protesting workers of the corporation.

Speaking on a point of order, the opposition leader, Mian Raza Rabbani, said he had received information from Karachi that the process of the KESC's privatization had started and hundreds of its workers were protesting outside the local press club.

He alleged that military officials in the KESC had threatened the employees of dismissal if they continued to raise their demands. He said the KESC, being an important public utility with access to several sensitive institutions and installations, should not be handed over to foreigners.