June 06, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 01, 1429

LARKANA, June 5: Tension ran high between labourers and management of Shahdadkot Textile Mills on Thursday when workers stopped two trailers from shifting machinery before paying their dues.

Large number of workers led by labour leaders Abdul Fatah, Mir Mohammad Lashari, Ali Dost Soomro pitched tents at the main gate to block the shifting of machinery after trailers entered into the premises on Wednesday.

They alleged guards of resorting to aerial firing to create panic and harass workers in leaving but failed in their endeavour.

Workers raised slogans in the presence of police demanding payment of their dues and revival of mills operations.

Mills managers did not allow Divisional Labour Officer Larkana, Ms Nageena Memon to enter into the mills as she had come to resolve the matter.

She talked to Sindh Food Minister Mir Nadir Ali Magsi who belonged to Shahdadkot, labour leaders and mill managers for resolving the problem but in vain.

The mill managers were adamant of selling machinery to clear their dues on the plea that present conditions do not allow them to run the mills.

The management had on May 1, sacked 452 employees on the pretext that it was unable to run the mills and since then tensions were mounting.

Social and political organisations under newly developed situation in Shahdadkot endorsed the demands of labourers and joined in protest.

Labourers were worried about their families and were crying for some benefits prior to their shunting out, while managers reluctant to accept their demands.