Troops have taken control of Pakistan's telecommunications facilities and netted scores of trade union leaders yesterday after they called a strike against privatization next week, sources said. "We have deployed troops, (paramilitary) Rangers and police at 150 PTCL (Pakistan Telecommunications Company Ltd.) installations," Inter-Services Public Relations chief Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan said of Saturday's move. The deployment of troops and police officers follows the government's announcement on Saturday that bids would be invited to invest in 26 percent of Pakistan the PTCL on June 18.
The government had earlier postponed the privatization of the country's largest telecoms company to end a 10-day standoff with 55,000 PTCL workers. Military officials said security forces had taken control of key PTCL installations in major cities while police and paramilitary rangers were posted to check on the law and order situation. |