KARACHI, Feb 25: Demonstrators on Friday condemned the government's privatization policy, and demanded that professional managements be appointed in organizations facing losses , so that not only do these units become self sustaining but workers be provided with benefits as well.

Speaking at a workers' demonstration organized by the Karachi Shipyard Labour Union (CBA) at the Karachi Press Club, labour leaders pointed out that privatization of the shipyard - a sensitive organization - might raise concerns regarding national security. The speakers included the CBA's leaders, Ghani Zaman, Mohammad Wali Khan, chief of Labour Party Pakistan Nisar Shah, and others.

They said the shipyard had manufactured many gunboats, missile-mounted boats, submarines etc for the Pakistan Navy, besides manufacturing over 450 big and small ships for overseas customers. If the organization was privatized the shipbuilding industry in the country would be ruined, they exclaimed.

They said the shipyard was located right next to naval installations, and handing it over to a private party could pose it as a security risk. Criticizing the management for not paying salaries on time, they said at the time of Eid-ul-Azha, the union had urged the management to pay salaries to workers, but the management instead of paying salaries sacked 16 worker leaders.

They demanded that not only be the workers paid their salaries regularly and on time, but all those who had been sacked be reinstated immediately. They claimed that the management had also misappropriated over Rs400 million from the workers' provident fund, adding when the CBA's finance secretary, Azizullah Jatoi, asked the management regarding the accounts, the latter rather than providing the required information, dismissed him.

They also criticized the management for not allowing the trade union even to work for the welfare of workers. They alleged that workers who had retired over a year back had not yet been paid their dues and were running from pillar to post, but without any relief.

They demanded that the charter of demands that was submitted with the management be accepted and all facilities and benefits already being availed by the workers, and that withdrawn by the management, be restored. The speakers criticized the privatization of other important organizations like the PTCL, Pakistan Steel, etc, and demanded that the privatization policy be abolished.

The demonstrators were carrying banners with their demands inscribed on them. Some banners read: "Stop privatization", "Sacked workers be reinstated", "salary be paid regularly". They also chanted slogans of "I and you are starving, everything is eaten by GHQ", "privatization not acceptable", "accept charter of demands", in support of their demands.