Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Thursday assured the National Assembly (NA) of an enquiry into the incident of baton-charging of workers of Oil and Gas Development Corporation Limited (OGDL) after the NA Opposition, except Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmakers, walked out of the NA in protest of police action against ODGCL employees.
Speaking on a point of order, NA Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah said that the opposition had supported the government in the recent political impasse for the sake of democracy, adding that the government will not support the government’s use of force against labourers and workers of ODGCL.
A day earlier, police had baton-charged OGDCL workers protesting at NADRA Chowk, Islamabad against the government’s decision to privatise the corporation.
Shah said it was unfortunate that profitable entities such as ODGCL are being privatised to reduce the budget deficit, claiming that OGDCL had earned a record profit of Rs 135 billion in a year.
“Peaceful protest is the democratic right of workers,” maintained Shah.
Later, the Opposition walked out of the House.
Replying to the Points of Order by Shah and NA members (MNAs) Jamshed Dasti and Rasheed Godal, Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan said that not only the opposition but the treasury also respects the rights of workers, adding that the government will protect labours’ rights in the process of privatisation of OGDCL.
“It is the right of OGDCL workers to protest,” he said, adding that if the administration took extraordinary measures to control their protest, the issue will be investigated and a report will be presented to the House.
“Those protesting at NADRA Chowk against a specific administrative decision have the right to do so but everybody should know that the government respects the labourers for being key players in the country’s economic development will not deprive them of their rights.”
However, Nisar added that the parliament or the speaker must decide the limits of the protests as previously many people had reached the Parliament House’s doors and breached its premises. “No protest should turn into confrontation or unrest,” he said.
“I have already assured of an investigation and presentation of a report in the House then why should the opposition stage a walkout or boycott the NA session,” he said.
i think that is the best idea must followed
adding that if the administration took extraordinary measures to control their protest, the issue will be investigated and a report will be presented to the House
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