Demo against oil firm held

Published December 16, 2003

BADIN, Dec 15: The Sindh National Party activists and jobless youths staged a sit-in on the road leading to Mazari oil field, Matli, some 110 kilometres off here on Monday.

The SNP activists were scheduled to lay a siege to Khaskheli oil fields against the attitude of British Petroleum, a multinational oil exploring company, towards the local youths.

They could not reach the venue due to the strict police security and changed their direction to Mazari oil fields.

Another police contingent also foiled their bid to lay a siege the field.

Later, the protesters blocked a road leading to Mazari oil fields by erecting hurdles and observed six hours long sit-in on the road.

Taluka Nazim Matli, Asghar Halepoto, reached the spot and assured the protesters that their problems would be solved soon.

The protesters ended their protest after oil field officials agreed to hold dialogue on December 18 to discuss their 11-point charter of demand.

Their demands included employment of local people in oil fields, grant of royalty on oil and gas, community welfare projects in rural areas of Badin district besides training to local youth.

Talking to newsmen, General Secretary of SNP, Matli, Dilshad Bhutto, said that an eight-member committee had been formed, which included four journalists, to hold talks with oil field representatives.

He said that Pakistani executives in the MNCs were responsible for denial of jobs to the locals.

He warned that if BP failed to settle the matter and avoided dialogue, they would again hold a forceful protest on December 19.

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