Retrenchment KESC workers submit memorandum with Supreme Court registry

Laid-off workers of Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) on Saturday approached Supreme Court Registry to submit a memorandum pertaining to petition number 55 filed against the retrenchment of utility workers. Solidarity Committee (Mazdoor Itehad) leaders Akhlaq Khan, Kaniz Fatima and others submitted the memorandum in the presence of a large number of workers and their families.
The participants were holding banners and chanting slogans against KESC administration. They asked chief justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to give them justice. They chanted slogan "Chief Justice sahib ham Gharibon ko bi Insaf do". Children of the sacked workers were also present. A small girl was holding a banner inscribed with a slogan: "Tabish Uncle, how long can we go to school without fee and pocket money."
While talking to the media, an aggrieved said the politicians like Zardari were preparing for next election, having no concern about the plights of poor workers. He said the politicians have snatched bread, clothing and shelter from us. Another worker commented: "Our boys want to become doctors but this cruel retrenchment would force them to become bandits."
Later, addressing the workers outside a nearby KESC office Kaniz Fatima said their previous protests were covered extensively by the media. But some newspapers published allegations by Tabish Gohar that they brought some hired children to pose as the children of sacked workers. He rejected the allegation saying Gohar should come here and see that these children do belong to families of sacked workers.
Akhlaq Ahmed Khan said the registrar of Supreme Court Karachi registry has ensured him to send the memorandum to the Chief Justice as soon as possible. He was of the view that VSS offer was not a voluntary option but the KESC administration was compelling workers to accept it and it has kicked out hundreds of workers on 11 February including especial persons who did not accept the offer.
He apprised that the utility has added 13 more categories of workers including clerics, drivers and security guards to its earlier 22 categories of workers who would be axed. He resented this policy and demanded job security to workers and employees of KESC. Leaders and workers of solidarity committee vowed that they would keep on struggling for their rights and after them their children would fight for their rights. On the occasion some special persons sacked by the KESC also recorded their protest and requested the government to take them back.