Non-payment of salaries: KESC employees protest turns violent; 10 hurt

At least 10 persons including three policemen were injured during a protest demonstration staged by the employees of Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) at the head office over non-payment salaries. According to KESC sources and eyewitnesses, the employees gathered at KESC head office located in Defence area and staged protest demonstration over non-payment of 4-month salaries.
The protesters, who accused the management of applying delaying tactics in payment of their emoluments, chanted slogans against the administration and forced the officials to stop work. They said although Eid is just around the corner, the KESC administration instead of facilitating the employees is using all illegal means to deprive them of the opportunity to celebrate Eid with joy. They said the management had assured the employees that it will release their salaries by August 25 but hundreds of employees were still not paid for last four months.
According to eyewitnesses, security guards posted at KESC office opened indiscriminate gunshots on the protesters when the representatives of labour union tried to enter the office to convince the management to release their salaries. The guards' action left seven employees - Riaz, M Asif, Abdur Rasheed, M Riyasat, Fareed Khan, Waheed Khan and Basheer injured.
Meanwhile, heavy contingent of LEAs rushed to the spot and resorted to baton charge and used water cannon to disperse protesters. However, the enraged protesters pelted stones on LEAs that left three policemen namely Ghulam Fareed, Abdul Sattar and Ali Abdullah injured.
Police claimed that the protesters had not only ransacked KESC office but also torched a police van and they had arrested five security guards and over a dozen protestors in this connection. Despite several efforts made by the management and the law enforcers to disperse the protesters, the KESC head office is still cordoned off where nobody is allowed to come outside till filling this report.