HYDERABAD, March 5: Hesco employees of the Gari Khata division held protest demonstrations in Saddar, Qasimabad, Sarfaraz Colony, Liaquat Colony and Gari Khata sub-divisions and outside the revenue office here on Saturday against forced retrenchment of their four colleagues by the company chief.

The protest was held under the banner of the Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Union. The protesters wore black armbands and carried banners and placards inscribed with different slogans.

Speaking on the occasion, divisional union chairman Mohammad Yousuf warned that if the dismissed employees were not reinstated in 48 hours, the employees would observe a strike.

He accused the Hesco chief executive of victimizing low-paid employees to provide protection to corrupt officials. He also criticized the increase in prices of essential consumer items.

Alladin Qaimkhani, Azam Khan, Saeed Ahmad, Zahid Khan, Abdul Hameed Shaikh and others also spoke on the occasion.

DUES RECOVERY: Hesco has recovered Rs24.6 million till date from 1,436 defaulters and disconnected power supply to 3,102 consumers for non-payment of dues.

Hesco chief executive Syed Adeebul Hassan Rizvi issued instructions to operation circles to accelerate the pace of recovery and disconnect power supply of consumers failing to pay their dues.

An official source said there were 11,655 consumers who owed Rs1200 million to the company in the shape of bills.

The director, commercial, Hesco, Khurshid Ahmad Shah, told Dawn that the Larkana circle had topped in the recovery of dues by recovering Rs6.8 million from defaulters.

PMA: Pakistan Medical Association's Sindh chapter president Dr Noor Mohammad Memon has welcomed the abolishment of self-finance scheme for admission to universities and colleges. In a statement faxed to Dawn here on Saturday, he congratulated HigherCommission chairman Dr Attaur Rehman on the decision to abolish the self-finance scheme.