IHC orders District Admin, Police to punish culprits locking up PTCL HQ

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court Justice Muhammad Munir Paracha has ordered District Administration and Federal Police to take strict action against the culprits who are involved in forcefully locking up PTCL headquarters thus taking law in their hands.

On Thursday, hearing started on the petition filed against Chief Commissioner and SSP Islamabad.

Council PTCL Naeem Bukhari arguing before the court at the start of the hearing made it clear to the Respected Court that PTCL is the only organization, which is providing telecommunication facilities not only to Government but people of Pakistan, Armed Forces and other national institutions and any disruption in its services pose a serious threat to national security.

He further argued that PTCL has been making heavy investment in the country since 2006 and due to handful miscreants not only the nation, people is in danger but also investment.

Therefore, the learned court realizing the gravity of the situation should order Chief Commissioner Islamabad Hamid Ali Khan and SSP to take proper security measures.

On this the respected Justice ordered Chief Commissioner Hamid Ali Khan and SP Islamabad Ahmed Latif that it is their prime responsibility to take good care of life of the citizens and property.

Hence, they must ensure the safety and protection of headquarters of PTCL, control Law and Order situation and cope strictly with some elements who are disrupting law for their own gains in this regard.

It is pertinent to mention that large number of PTCL employees have demanded regularization of jobs from daily wage basis to the company’s pre-privatization pay scales having entitlement to pensions as well.

They have demanded to arrest the security officials who tortured peaceful workers in Islamabad urging to register a case against them immediately.

Meanwhile Amidst rift between the union members of PTCL, a large number of Pakistan Telecommunication Company (PTCL) employees after ending their ongoing strike have come back to their respective duties.

Sources informed here on Thursday that almost fifty percent union members of PTCL after ending their ongoing strike against the UPS facility have come back on their respective duties and the decision also created a rift among the union members.

It was further learned that the employees, who have returned to their jobs after voiding the protest strike have informed that they have been assured by the PTCL that the employees could prolong their jobs on old terms, if they do not take advantage from the UPS facility. They said that after this assurance it was unnecessary to continue the strike.

It was also learned that a grouping among the PTCL union members has emerged, as the striking employees restricted the other staff members from going back to duty. While the members who had decided to end the strike on Thursday chanted slogans against the PTCL employees union president Ch. Manzoor and went to their respective works.