Angry workers burn powerloom factories

Faisalabad - Seven workers of a powerloom factory sustained injuries in a clash with the factory managerial staff and owners in Sidhar area on Tuesday. SP Madina Town Muh-ammad Yousaf also got injured in the violence.

Hundreds of factory workers gathered at a spot to register their protest where a clash erupted between stooges of PML-Q MPA Muhammad Ajmal Asif and the workers. As a result, seven workers got injured, two of them namely Murtaza and Rasheed, seriously.

Powerloom factory owners resorted to aerial firing on the workers that annoyed them and they set ablaze two powerloom factories owned by Muhammad Ajmal Asif that gutted goods worth hundreds of thousands of rupees.

Police reached the spot and resorted to aerial. The workers also surrounded the factories and forced police force to retreat. Police personnel saved their lives by sheltering themselves in the factory premises.

Police resorted to shelling and aerial firing after being attacked by the protestors who hurled stones at the law enforcing personnel. The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital. The Rescue 1122 was not allowed to operate there.

The leaders of factory worked refused to hold talks with District Nazim Rana Zahid Tauseef and DCO Muhammad Azam Suleman and they insisted

That they would hold talks only with Provincial Labour Minister Ashraf Sohna.

Provincial law minister Ashraf Sohna rushed Faisalabad to quell unrest among power looms workers.

The minister had negotiations with worker's leaders and assured them to protect their legitimate rights. The minister also directed police to register case against the persons involved in firing on power looms workers. He said that free medical treatment would be provided to the workers injured in clash.     Meanwhile, the police have registered cases against seven persons and recovered 14 guns allegedly used in firing from the factory premises.

According to the reports, 3 power loom factories were also damaged in riots in Sadhar, a peripheral semi urban locality of Jhang Road.

Staff Reporter from Quetta adds: Residents of Sariab blocked the main road for one and half hour to protest against acute shortage of water on Tuesday.

The protesters burnt tyres and erected barricades on Sariab Road due to which traffic remained suspended for nearly two hours causing difficulties.

The protesters were chanting slogans against Balochistan Water Supply Authority (B-WASA) and the govt for not taking any steps even after their repeated complaints.

Protesters said that a large area of Sariab was facing water shortage for last many days and they had apprised WASA authorities about their problems but they did not take any steps in this regard.

The protesters called off their protest after assurance of WASA and police authorities of solution to the problem.

Meanwhile, a personnel of law enforcement agency got injured in a landmine blast in Dera Bugti district on Tuesday.

According to reports reaching here, personnel of law enforcement agency were conducting a drive in area of Sui, near Dole Checkpost.

Their vehicle hit a landmine which exploded with a loud blast. As a result, a soldier identified as Rashid received serious injuries.

Online adds: Unidentified men in Manjra village of district Kohlu have blown up two electricity towers on Tuesday morning.

The blast damaged the towers completely, which caused suspension in power supply to Manjra and some other parts of Kohlu.

Police has started investigation after registering case against unidentified miscreants.