September 25, 2003	Thursday	Rajab 27, 1424

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BADIN, Sept 24: A shutter-down strike to protest against the management of the Army Welfare Sugar Mill (AWSM) was observed here on Wednesday.

Many youngsters riding motorcycles issued warnings to traders to keep their shops closed. As a result, shops and business centres remained closed throughout the day.

Youngsters also burnt tyres on Seerani and Khoski roads.

The strike call was given by the workers union of the AWSM, supported by the Awam Dost Nazims and activists of political parties.

Hundreds of workers also staged a demonstration at the main gate of the Army Welfare Sugar Mills. Later, they took out a procession, which was led by president of the union Iqbal Ahmed Baryar and Ali Muhammad Shah, former general secretary of the union.

Some 50 women led by the wife of general secretary workers union AWSM, Abdul Sallah also took out a procession. The protesters marched through the streets of the town and later observed a sit-in at the main Kazia Wah Chowk, blocking the traffic for four hours.

District Nazim Kamal Khan Chang, Taluka Nazim Badin Dr Musarrat Hussain Khwaja, along with city Awam Dost Nazims took part in the sit-in as well.

Afterwards, MP Dr Sikandar Ali Mandhro and MPA Amjad Ali Shah also joined the protest.

Speaking on the occasion, District Nazim said workers’ demands should be accepted.

Meanwhile, the district administration played a mediatory role and arranged a meeting between union leaders and the mill’s management. After the management accepted on of the four demands, workers put an end to their protest.

Workers’ charter of demands included restoration of union activities, withdrawal of charge sheets and suit for defamation, payment of bonus of the previous year, and allocation of Rs25 million for different basic facilities.

A five-member committee was constituted to conduct the dialogue with the mill management. The members were chairman safety commission district Badin Dr Aziz Memon, president of the union workers sugar mill Iqbal Ahmed, general secretary of the workers union AWSM Abdul Salam Memon and general manager of the mill (retd) Colonel Khalilur Rehman.