We are launching a protest movement against the sacking of 638 employees from the Sui Southern Gas Company, Zulfiqar Qadri, Chairman of the employees action committee said in a statement yesterday.

If the Government does not reinstate these workers, they will start self immolating themselves in groups of four daily from March 23, he said.

In Pakistan March 23 is a holiday to mark the 1940 Resolution calling for the creating of Pakistan as an independent state for the muslims of the Asian Subcontinent.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Government, which is struggling to streamline bloated state-owned corporations, has been reducing employees at several companies.

This has generated protests from trade union groups and opposition parties who say it is exacerbating a massive unemployment problem.

In February, the government fired 525 employees from the gas company, sparking protests by the labour groups.

Earlier yesterday dozens of labourers cursed Mr. Sharif for what they called his "Anti-Labour" policies during prayers at a mosque in the capital of Islamabad.

We will offer special prayers and celebrate a deliverance day whenever his (Sharif’s) government is ousted, Mr. Qadri said.

There was no immediate comment from the Government.