APTMA protests outside SNGPL office

Thousands of textile unit workers protested in front of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) Head Office on Wednesday against suspension of gas supply. The workers, under banner of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), surrounded the SNGPL Office and demanded of the company to restore gas supplies or else they would not go home. Punjab Governor Latif Khosa, on instructions of President Asif Ali Zardari, reached the spot and assured the protesters of resolving their problems as early as possible. It was for the first time in the industrial history of the country that textile millers and workers staged a sit-in outside the SNGPL Office for more than two hours. The SNGPL staff, including the top management, remained stuck in the building throughout the sit-in. Textile workers held candles in their hands after sunset until dispersing after the governor’s assurance.
The protesters were holding banners and flags and chanted slogans demanding restoration of gas supplies and saving the industry from collapse. They also criticised the federal government’s decision of restoring gas supplies to CNG stations and said that automobiles were being run at their stake. APTMA leadership, including Chairman Mohsin Aziz, Punjab Chairman Ahsan Bashir, Group Leader Gohar Ejaz, Energy Committee Convener Shahzad Ali Khan and others addressed the protesters.
Earlier, the protesters held a rally at Raiwind-Manga Road, blocking the road for sometime. Afterwards, they reached Egerton Road by busses and vans and started the main protest. The governor visited the SNGPL Office and joined the APTMA leadership and textile workers in the sit-in for a while. Addressing the protesters, Khosa said that Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Senator Dr Asim Hussain, on advice of President Zardari, would visit APTMA Punjab on January 6 to negotiate with the textile industry leadership on gas supplies.