HYDERABAD, Oct 8: A large number of former SRTC employees, who had purchased SRTC buses as quid pro quo for their golden handshake and other dues from the SRTC, held a protest demonstration outside the Hyderabad Press Club on Monday against the alleged highhandedness of private transporters.

They had also brought more than 25 buses, which they parked on the Press Club road.

Talking to newsmen Saghir, Ali Hassan Soomro, Dhani Bux, and others said that the ex-employees in groups of four to five employees had purchased SRTC buses with their life savings when the corporation was dissolved and they were allowed to ply these buses between Hyderabad and Karachi.

They said that against the private transporters, who were charging Rs80 per passenger, the ex-employees of the SRTC were charging only Rs45 per passenger.

They claimed that due to vast difference in fares, the private transporters were losing their business and therefore they were creating a host of problems for the ex-employees and had even resorted to hooliganism.

They said that the government had invited tenders for the bus stand at Karachi Garden and they had given the highest bid; therefore, their tender was accepted.

SERI SUGAR MILLS: The Seri Sugar Mills workers union has threatened to go on strike with effect from Oct 17 if their charter of demands submitted to the mill management on Oct 2 in accordance with the provisions of the Industrial Relations Ordinance (IRO), 1969 was not accepted.