Coalmine workers rights activists calls hunger strike

SHANGLA: Coalmine workers rights activists have called hunger strike on July, 11 next month at Alpuri over what they said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government failed in its promise of legislation for coalmine workers.
They called hunger strike in a meeting held here on Friday at Karora Shangla, where office bearers Sarfraz Khan, Gul Khan Shangla, Ali Bash Khan, Abid Yar, Gulab Shahpuri, Mian Sohrab and members of the Coalmine Workers Welfare Association were present on the occasion.
They said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had made a promise with them that legislation will be enacted for safety precautions of the coalminers and for their rights but despite the passage of 8 months the government yet to be moved for the step.
“We have held several meetings with the concerned authorities of the provincial government and also presented charter of demands in this regard but till date government did not implement on that charter,” Sarfaraz Khan said.
He said, receiving dead bodies of their loved ones has become a routine for the local people of Shangla as about 70 per cent of coalmine workers are belonged to Shangla.
“We have planned to set up hunger strike camp on July, 11, next month that will be continued till accepting our demands. We did not have any other option but to set up hunger strike,” Abid Yaar said.
He alleged that government responsible authorities did not respond them politely whenever they contact them in this matter, they were fed up with this.
He said they will continue struggles for the rights of coalminers which is a most ignored class of the society.
Gulab Shahpuri said that they are preparing for setting up the hunger strike camp, which will be set up at front of the deputy commissioner Shangla at Alpuri.
He said, coalmine workers will also come to the hunger strike camp for participation with them.