GILGIT, May 30: Around 167 recently-sacked workers of the Northern Areas Transport Corporation (Natco) have called upon President Gen Pervez Musharraf, Northern Areas force commander and chief secretary to take an immediate action against the areas Chief Executive Haji Fida Muhammad Nashad and secretary food Haji Sanaullah for their alleged efforts to bankrupt the corporation.

An action committee of the workers, at a press conference here on Tuesday, stated that the deputy chief executive of the Northern Areas, who owned the biggest private transport company in the region, was involved with the food and forest secretary in holding back Rs100 million of government outstanding against the corporation.

They also alleged that both the officials by unnecessary delays in payments were abusing their powers to bankrupt the transport corporation.

It was due to financial stagnation that management of the corporation had laid off over 167 employees within the current month.

The sacked employees pledged to launch a drive against the deputy chief executive and food secretary to press for their demands.

They also threatened to commit self-immolation if their jobs were not restored.

ELECTED: Javed Akhter Advocate and Azfar Hasan on Tuesday have been elected as the new chairman and vice-chairman of Gilgit Municipal Committee, respectively.