OGDCL privatization: Opposition stages sit-in outside Parliament
Opposition members staged sit-in against privatization of OGDCL, violence on OGDCL workers
ISLAMABAD: (Dunya News) – Opposition members in Senate staged a walkout today from the upper house of the parliament and held a sit-in outside Parliament House against privatization of Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and police violence on its workers. Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Raza Rabbani said that protest will be held on Constitution Avenue in the next phase.
Members of the parliament belonging to Awami National Party (ANP), Baluch National Party (BNP), Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) and PPP protested against the privatization today (Thursday). Condemning the move while talking to Dunya News, Raza Rabbani said that state machinery was not used against Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr. Tahirul Qadri when they led their marches to Islamabad but workers were treated brutally by the government as they protested against privatization of OGDCL. “Tahirul Qadri was given the way out but all the laws are only implemented on the common man”, he said. He said that dual law will not be allowed to prevail in the country.
Raza Rabbani said the brutal use of force and baton-charge against workers cannot be tolerated. “Shoot us first if you want to use bullets”, said the PPP leader. He also said that protesting against the government move, opposition members will block the Constitution Avenue in the next phase. “We’ll see who shoots at us”, he challeneged.
Condemning the use of force on OGDCL workers, ANP senator Zahid Khan said that he condemned the incident. “We want to know who ordered use of force on the workers and FIR against them”, said Zahid Khan. He was talking exclusively to Dunya News.
Earlier, opposition parties had also boycotted the National Assembly session in view of the use of force against the OGDCL workers.
Opposition Leader in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah said that if government used force against OGDCL workers, opposition will fight the government.
Discussing the issue in National Assembly, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that administration acted quicker than it was required to. He assured that the incident will be investigated and report will be presented before the house.
