Employees of Pakistan Railways on Tuesday staged a protest demonstration outside Railway Station Peshawar Cantonment against the proposed privatisation of the entity and demanded its immediate withdrawal. Dozens of employees of Pakistan Railways led by divisional president Pakistan Railway (PR) Labour Union Aamir Hashmi were carrying placards and banners and were chanting slogans against anti- Labourers' policies of the government.
The angry protesters also torched an effigy of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) head and denounced the suspension of frequent trains' services across the country. The protesters have rejected the proposed decision of Pakistan Railway privatisation and called to refrain from such anti-labourers moves.
Addressing the protesting railway workers, President Aamir Hashmi said that the plan was sheer injustice and tantamount to snatching of morsel from poor families. He called for sacking of around 3,000 corrupt officials to decrease growing deficit and pulling Pakistan Railway out of the prevailing crisis. Amid slogans against suspension of different train services, he said that instead of sacking poverty stricken labourers, the government should grant incentives to them.
He said the socialist resolution is the only way to tackle with primitive and totalitarian system in the country. He added the chances are available for existence of such system. He called upon the government to defer the proposed privatisation, as 4,000 employees will become jobless throughout the country. He demanded of Federal Minister for Railway, Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour to review the decision. He warned that in case the government fails to meet their demands; they will launch countrywide protests.