KARACHI: The Provincial Government last night [June 11] extended an invitation to the labour leaders of Karachi to resume talks for bringing an end to the five-day-old strike in the industrial areas. The labour leaders have not, however, given any specific reply yet. The Provincial Labour Minister, Mr. Abdul Sattar Gabol, told “Dawn” that he had telephonic conversations with Mr. Nabi Ahmed and Mrs Kaniz Fatima in this connection. He would contact them again this morning. Mr. Gabol said the Government was firm on its stand… . What the Government wanted was that a judicial enquiry into the incidents be held immediately. … “We are always prepared to talk”, he said, adding that the Government was not responsible for delaying the decisions.

[Earlier], [t]he talks between the Government and the labour leaders reached a deadlock … because the Government did not accept the dem­ands put forward by the workers’ representatives. The main demand of the workers was suspension of six officials, including the District Magistrate, who, according to them, were responsible for the brutal Police firing. The Government insisted that the judicial enquiry should be held first, and then the officials could be punished only if ordered by the inquiry commission.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2022