TOBA TEK SINGH: The powerloom workers who were on a strike for a nine per cent increase in their wages, ended their protest on Thursday after their employers accepted their demand.

The workers staged a rally from grain market that was led by Awami Workers Party (AWP) district president Muhammad Zubair and powerloom workers’ union president Nadeem Ashraf Jogi.

The rally, after passing from Shorkot Road and Shahbaz Chowk, reached the district government complex where administration got locked the main gates stopping the protesters from entering its premises.

The protesting workers then staged a sit-in on Toba-Rajana road and blocked it for traffic.

On the direction of District Coordination Officer Amer Ijaz Akbar, District Labour Officer Saeed Ahmad Dhillon held talks with the workers.

Later a meeting was held at the DO labour’s office that was attended by workers’ leaders and powerloom owners association president Malik Rehmat Ali and secretary general Mian Zahid Iqbal.

During the meeting the owners agreed to increase workers wages by nine per cent. Following the commitment, the workers ended the protest.

DEATH SENTENCE: District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Yar Wallana on Thursday handed down death sentence to a murder accused.

Chuttiana police had arrested Abdul Majeed of Chak 409-JB village for strangling his wife Saadia Perveen over a minor dispute on Feb 22, 2014.

The court also ordered the convict to pay Rs400,000 as compensation to the heirs of the victim.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2015

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