Pakistan Reports

Dadu: Protest Against Gadani Incident

By PTUDC Dadu

On 7th November 2016, a demonstration was called by Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign (PTUDC) in front of Dadu Press club against the massacre of Gadani Ship Breaking Yard, which killed more than 50 workers and left many injured and still disappeared, due to the profit greed of capitalists and contractors and negligence of the government officials. Workers form Pakistan Para Medical Staff, Unemployed Youth Movement (BNT), and other Trade Unions participated in the protest. Speakers said that 2 million workers are directly linked with ship breaking industry, who are working on less than 2 dollars per day on 12 hours shift, but there is not a single dispensary to cater minor medical treatments. There is only one ambulance to serve 20 thousand workers of the yard. Three to four incidents per week is consider a norm. But neither government nor investor or contractor are willing to provide any facility. The protestors demand for immediate arrest of investors, contractors and civil officers whose negligence caused such huge tragedy. The also demand to pay 5 million PKR to the heirs of the martyrs.

Zameer Hussain from Highways Labour Union, Anwar Panwar from president PTUDC sindh, Raja Rafeeq Panwar from Pakistan Para Medical Staff Union,  Ijaz Bhugio from BNT, Hanif Masrani, Sadam KhasKheli were amnong the speakers.