June 26, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 21, 1429

FAISALABAD, June 25: Power-loom workers in most parts of the district continued their protest on Wednesday pressing the authorities to take action against gunmen of a factory who opened indiscriminate fire on unarmed labourers protesting deduction of their wages in Sadhar on Tuesday.

Mian Ajmal Asif, who happens to be a PML-Q MPA, owns the factory.

Owing to the strike by power-loom workers, weaving factories remained closed and panic gripped the industrial areas throughout the district as factory owners kept guarding their installations fearing any backlash by labourers.

The strike caused loss of millions of rupees as a majority of power-looms did not weave fabric in many areas of the district.

The workers also staged a protest rally and disrupted traffic on Jhang Road.

Carrying banners, they chanted slogans against the weaving unit owners and irresponsible behaviour of the district government officials. Scores of labourers also staged a protest demonstration outside the local press club.

Speaking at a press conference, Labour Qaumi Movement chairman Mian Abdul Qayyum, flanked by Aslam Miraj, Rana Tahir and others, said nobody would be allowed to subject workers to torture or any kind of hostility.

He said labourers would continue their struggle till the acceptance of their demands.

Qayyum thanked Punjab Labour Minister Ashraf Sohna for extending financial assistance to the injured labourers.

The labour minister also visited the Allied Hospital on Wednesday and inquired about the welfare of workers being treated there. He assured them that the culprits would be brought to book.

He said a committee, consisting of representatives of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and labour leaders, was being formed to resolve all issues.

At least seven labourers had sustained bullet injuries in the clash as factory gunmen opened fire on protesters.

Five police officials, including a SP Madina Town Malik Yousaf and DSP Mumtaz Deo, received injuries when angry labourers resorted to stone-pelting and the police resorted to aerial firing and teargas shelling to disperse them.

Thekariwala SHO Imran Kalro said MPA Mian Ajmal and 13 others had been arrested and booked under Section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act and Sections 149, 148 and 324 of the Pakistan Penal Code. He said the police