LAHORE, Dec 17: Contractors executing government development projects all over the province have criticised the arrest of their colleagues in Faisalabad and elsewhere. They announced they would stop work if the contractors were not freed in three days.

At a news conference here on Wednesday, Punjab Contractors’ Federation Chairman Sardar Ishaq Khan and others regretted that for the first time in the history of the country their colleagues had been arrested through a “royal decree” without any legal notice or inquiry in Faisalabad and Multan.

“We are considered nation builders because of our contribution towards the country’s development,” Mr Khan said.

“We, in fact, first invest our money to make the governments boast of development. But instead of treating us with honour, the government has bracketed us with thieves and robbers. This is highly objectionable, and has sent a wave of anger among our ranks all over the province, he said.”

He also condemned the arrest of contractors in Multan who were later granted bail. He demanded that the government withdraw cases against them and treat them as partners in development and according to the agreements signed with them.

He said under no laws, the government could have arrested contractors. They could merely be asked to remove any faults in structures built by them at their own cost.

Mr Khan said under the standard practice contractors were informed in writing about any defect in the projects carried out by them for correction. The government had every right to use their pending bills and the security money to remove the faults.

“In realisation of these conditions, contractors always try their level best to complete the projects while after all specifications to avoid any trouble afterwards. They also are given extension in cases of genuine delays, but this has never happened that contractors are arrested without following the set procedures,” he said.To explain the Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology building case, he said after obtaining a no-objection certificate the contractors had handed over the structure to the authorities two years ago. The building was damaged after the authorities installed machinery in the hospital, he claimed.

He said the contractors were ready to repair the damages under the agreement, and the most important thing was that their security of Rs8 million and pending bills of Rs4 million were with the government.