Turkish companies hold talks over dispute in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan

Turkish Albayrak and Ozpak Group companies continue holding talks with a Pakistani waste management company to resolve a dispute after a late night police raid on their garages earlier this week.

The meeting on Thursday was attended by Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) Chairman Malik Ali Amjad Noon, Ozpak CEO Nizamettin Kocamese, Albayrak Project Coordinator Cagri Ozel and some other company representatives.

Noon, for his part, apologized to Turkish company officials and said Lahore was in a fix regarding waste management and called on Turkish companies to extend a helping hand in this regard.

He went on to say that their CEO Imran Ali Sultan was not aware of the mistreatment toward Turkish companies.

He offered to pay compensation to the Turkish companies by buying or renting their vehicles.

On the other hand, Ozpak CEO Kocamese said the waste management company had more than 800 vehicles, including those confiscated from the Turkish companies, and asked why they were not able to clean the city.

"[During the raid] We showed a court decision to the LWMC authority and police, however, they did not even care. Also, why did you not leave the garage despite [news] appearing in the press in the morning?" Kocamese said.

He added: "There is no way we can accept the rent offer. Half of the vehicles you confiscated, which were functioning, are now a wreck. Most components of the vehicles were looted by your staff. Your personnel took vehicle computers and several other parts. Within a period of five to 10 days, half of the other vehicles will inevitably become a wreck."

He added that the companies would attend Friday’s meeting suggested by Noon in an effort to resolve the issue.

Raid on Dec. 21 by Pakistani police

Six facilities used as garages by Albayrak and Ozpak companies providing cleaning services in Lahore city were raided by the Pakistani police force on Dec. 21.

The police forcibly detained employees leading to a brawl. Some of the employees were physically abused by the police force, and they were not allowed to get their personal belongings.

Sultan said the action was legal and in line with the contract agreements, claiming that the vehicle fleet had to be handed over or they would appeal to a civilian administration.

* Writing by Ali Murat Alhas