HYDERABAD, April 30: Leaders of an organization – Shah Bukhari Human Voice, Qasimabad – have lashed out at a group of people putting pressure on the management of the Jamshoro Joint Venture Limited for employment. Speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Saturday, organization general-secretary Akram Khaskheli, Dilsher Khaskheli, Khadim Hussain Khaskheli and Mukhtar Ali Khaskheli said: “These people are outsiders and they have no right over employment in the company”.

They said people of Shah Bukhari alone had the first right of employment in the JJVL and the HQ3 gas unit because the companies were located in Shah Bukhari.

They warned the JJVL administration not to play into the hands of what they called blackmailers. They said employment should be given to residents of Shah Bukhari.

They pointed out that the Sui Southern Gas Company, unit C-HQ3, had been established in Shah Bukhari 50 years ago and added that area people had played a prominent role in establishment of the company.

They, however, regretted that local people who had served the company for 10 to 14 years had not been confirmed in service and many of them had been terminated.

They appealed to the SSGC managing director to reinstate the sacked workers and regularize their services.

About the recently-established JJVL, they said people of the area expected that they would be given employment in the company.

They said the educated youth submitted applications for jobs and some of them were given employment but now the company was being pressured by ‘extortionists and blackmailers’.

They alleged that these blackmailers had brought people from outside to hold protest demonstrations and pollute the peaceful atmosphere.

Meanwhile, activists of the Awami Action Committee, union council-4, Qasimabad, on Friday held a demonstration at the company gate, demanding jobs for local people.

They were led by Mehboob Abro.

According to reports, talks were held between the company management and representatives of the action committee and it was decided that the company would establish a community centre and a health centre in the union council.

A three-member committee was also appointed which would hold talks with company on contentious issues.