SUKKUR, Oct 16: Hundreds of Qadirpur gas field workers along with activists of different political parties staged a demonstration and observed a token hunger strike in Ghotki on Thursday to protest against the proposed privatisation of the gas field.

The gas field workers along with the activists of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Pakistan Muslim League (N), Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaaz, Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party, Wapda Hydro Labour Union, Trade Unions Alliance gathered at the main roundabout of the town. Shouting slogans against the government, they staged a protest demonstration and observed a five-hour token hunger strike.

Speaking on the occasion, Zahid Bhutto, Lal Shah Bukhari, Jam Abdul Fatah Samejo, Qaiser Zaman Pathan and others slammed the government for its attempts to privatise national assets like Qadirpur gas field, which was earning huge profits. They said that the Qadirpur Gas Field Workers Action Committee and people of the area would never allow its privatisation as they had harnessed the gas field with their blood.

They said that people of the area along with the workers of the gas field would strongly resist privatisation of the gas field and would render every sacrifice to save this national asset, which besides providing huge profits was also providing bread and butter to its workers.

Announcing future strategy of the action committee, they said that activists of the action committee would observe a token hunger strike in front of the Sukkur Press Club on Oct 23.