ISLAMABAD: Trade union leaders and workers organisations all over the country have condemned the massacre of 20 labourers at Turbat in Balochistan and announced mourning for three days.

The announcement was made by the All Pakistan Workers Confederation (APWC), a representative body of workers in the country, at a meeting held at the Labour Hall on Sunday.

From Monday to Wednesday, workers will hoist black flags at their offices, wear black armbands and hold condolence meetings in memory of the slain labourers.

Federal govt urged to grant Rs2.5m for families of each slain worker

Gunmen attacked a camp of construction workers in Gogdan area in Turbat early on Saturday and opened fire, killing 20 labourers and injuring three others.

APWC Secretary General and veteran trade union leader Khurshid Ahmed, APWC President Rubeena Jameel and other leaders Yousuf Baloch, Muhammad Akram Bunda, Javed Iqbal Baloch, Ramzan Khan Jadoon and Sajjad Hussain Sajid attended the meeting.

The meeting called upon the federal government to announce Rs2.5 million in compensation for bereaved families of each massacred labourer from the Workers’ Welfare Fund and arrange employment, free education, health facilities and other social benefits for their children.

Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif separately announced on Saturday Rs1m compensation to be paid to the families of each slain worker.

“It was a callous murder of innocent workers who were contributing to the development of Balochistan province, living far away from their families in Punjab and Sindh,” the union leaders said.

“All patriotic forces of the country have condemned this horrendous murder of the innocent citizens as police at the site remained a silent spectator and miserably failed to protect these workers,” the meeting noted.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2015

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