Islamabad Police and OGDCL Workers Clash Leaving Dozens Injured

The city police and the workers of the Oil and Gas Development Company clashed in Islamabad yesterday when the latter tried reaching the Parliament House in protest of the government’s privatization initiative.

Earlier this week, OGDCL employees in the district of Karak also blocked the Indus Highway and protested against the government’s plan to privatize OGDCL and other organizations in a drive to improve the economic situation of the country. 

According to the workers, privatization would lead to layoffs, and a number of employed people stand to lose their jobs. They also blamed the government for not being able to create employment opportunities for educated people and demanded that the decision be reversed.

In Islamabad, the protest was led by Chaudhry Mohammad Akram, who is the union president and Chaudhry Yasin, the CDA union president. The protestors walked towards the Parliament House before being stopped by the city police and senior officials.

However, according to eyewitnesses, MNA Jamshed Dasti arrived at the scene and urged the protestors to walk ahead despite instructions against the same from police officials. He then reportedly led the protestors forward until they reached the Radio Pakistan Chowk, where the clash began with stone pelting.

The police force present at the scene also responded and arrested around 45 workers after policemen and senior officials were injured, including SP city Rizwan Gondal, DSP City Ashraf Shah and SHO Kohsar.

Dozens of people from both sides have reportedly been injured and police had to resort to baton charge and use of tear gas to control the clash.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=49676

Posted by Hunain Naseer on Oct 30 2014. Filed under Latest News, National. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.