Children’s hunger strike against OGDC enters ninth day

Staff Report

MULTAN: A hunger strike by the children of employees of the Oil and Gas Development Corporation (OGDC) entered its ninth day on Tuesday.

Residents of Dera Bugti district demonstrated their support for the strikers by burning tyres on the road which blocked traffic.

Chief of the Kalpar Bugti tribe Wadera Qamaruddin said the state-controlled oil and gas companies were not fulfilling their commitments which was causing unrest among the residents of these areas.

Sui Southern Gas Pipelines Limited (SSGPL) Union Leader Ali Gul Bugti said the gas companies were taking advantage of people’s weaknesses and warned them against depriving the locals of their rights.

Pakistan Telecommuni-cations Company Limited Union Leader Aamir Baksh Bugti said the gas companies would have to provide jobs to the unemployed youth of the area because these companies were earning billions from their land and warned that if they didn’t, they would have to face “serious repercussions.” He said 184 people were on a hunger strike for the last nine days. The administration had provided them with medical services but the gas companies have not yet heeded to their demands, he said.

Inter religion peace walk opposes war: More than 5,000 Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Sikhs participated in an Inter Religion Peace Walk in Rahimyar Khan on Tuesday to protest against a war in Iraq, led by District Nazim Syed Ahmed Mehmood.

District Police Officer (DPO) Sarmad Saeed Khan said the march was the first of its kind in the district. The march began from Jinnah Hall and terminated at Railway Chowk. Participants were carrying placards inscribed with slogans like “Pakistani nation stands for peace,” “No religion favours war,” and “No blood for Oil.” Police was deployed throughout the city to prevent any mishap.

Army overlooking Muharram security: The army has been deployed for Muharram in sensitive areas of Multan, Vehari, Khanewal, Pakpattan, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Rahimyar Khan and Bahawalnagar districts, sources said on Tuesday.

District Police Officer (DPO) Hamid Mukhtar Gondal said the army would perform its duties in the sensitive areas of Multan and may be called out in other areas in case of any emergency.

He said 16,000 policemen had been deployed at imambargahs and mosques, and the army would stay in these areas till March 15.He also said more than 200 people were arrested for violating the ban on pillion riding but were later released.

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