Lahore, September 08: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has urged the government to intervene in the long drawn out row between the employees and administration of the Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation Limited (PTCL) so as to bring an early and amicable end to the impasse.

A press statement issued by the Commission on Wednesday said: “The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has serious concerns over the continued stalemate between the PTCL employees and administration. HRCP has long advocated that such disputes and agitation must not go unresolved for long. These matters cannot and must not be resolved through reliance on the state’s coercive powers or by resorting to legal stratagems alone. HRCP cannot approve of resort to violence by any party, nor do we approve of a situation where demands of workers are treated exclusively as law and order issues.

We urge both parties to urgently resolve their differences in an amicable and emphasise the need for earnest government efforts to facilitate such an outcome. We hope that such a solution would give the beleaguered PTCL employees and their families something to smile at on Eid.”

Dr Mehdi Hasan

Chairperson