Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Secretary General Liaquat Baloch has strictly opposed all attempts to privatise the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) and demanded of the government to take solid measures for the complete restoration of PSM. He was addressing an All Parties Conference on prevailing crises of PSM on Monday at the JI headquarters, Idara Noor-e-Haq. The JI leader talked about the role of foreign loans in destruction of national institution and the economy. He termed the international monitory institutions as a new type of East-India Company.
He said that the role and services of K-Electric to people Karachi are evident on the fruits of privatization. He added that not only PSM but PIA, OGDCL and other institutions are also under the invisible clutches of foreign monitory institutions. Baloch said that the government has been pushing the families of individuals, associated with PSM, towards starvation. He also criticised those responsible for the destruction of PSM and other national institutions. "National security and corruption cannot be together," he said, adding that the national institutions such as PSM are also important for the security of the state.
The JI leader hailed the role of PML-N minister Hanja Sad Refigure and said that Pakistan Railways has become an example that sinking institutions can present exemplary show with the help of honest leader and team. He also talked about the role of JI and PREM union in restoration of Pakistan Railways.
He said that the JI has been raising the issue of PSM. He said that the party is against all forms of downsizing and privatization of national institutions. He recalled that two JI workers had sacrificed their lives for raising the issue of PSM. He added that JI had also held sit-in protest for the institution in past.
JI Karachi Chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has held the government class responsible for the current deteriorating situation of Pakistan Steel Mills. He said that small bailout packages were not the solution of the miseries of PSM. Terming the PSM as a strategic asset of Pakistan, he said that the institution is of a great importance to the country. He urged the PSM employees to stand firm against the nefarious conspiracy to private PSM. He was of the view that corrupt governments cannot face agitation on principal stands.
PSM_L Karachi secretary Khawaja Tariq Nazir stressed the need to devise a comprehensive strategy so as to safeguard the PSM. The PSM is an important asset of Pakistan. He said that in general they all are responsible for the current situation of the steel mills. He also criticised Riaz for ruining the institution. He was of the view that favouritism not only dimmed the shine of PSM but also pushed it to the present situation. He further said that the PSM is not only the issue of 16,000 employees but of the entire nation. He assured the association of his complete cooperation.
Qazi Ahmed Noorani of JUP said that PSM was once symbol of progress and development of the country. He stressed the need of safeguarding institutions of Pakistan to ensure a bright future of the country. Ghauri of JUI, said in his address that it was a modus operandi in Pakistan to push an institution against wall before plundering it in the name of privatization. He criticised the rulers and announced their support for the demands of PSM employees.
Birjees Ahmed of JI also shed light on the situations in the PSM. He informed the conference that salaries of up to five months had been in pending. Zafar Khan said that PSM has become a burning issue and the institution is almost collapse as the practically the plant is now non-functional. He said that the employees of the institution had been facing starvation. He also hinted for agitation after Moharram-ul-Harram.
Labour leader Habibuddin Junadi in his address said that countries cannot progress in the field of economic and industrial sectors without steel. He stressed the need of bringing reforms in the PSM. He said that a political will is needed to mitigate the issues of PSM. Saddique Rathore of JUP, Hafiz Ahmed Ali, Matloob Awan, Zahid Askari of JI and other also attended the APC.-PR