TOBA TEK SINGH: Brick kiln workers started a hunger strike unto death on Monday near the railway level crossing at Shahbaz Chowk for acceptance of their demands.

Addressing the hunger strikers at their camp, Pakistan Bhatta Mazdoor Union district secretary general Muhammad Shabbir, Baba Nazir Maseeh, Baba Arshad, Sajida Perveen and Zahoor Ahmad said the district administration had completely failed to implement the Punjab government’s notification for Rs1,036 pay per 1,000 bricks to the workers who were being paid just Rs600 to Rs700 per 1,000 bricks.

They alleged that the district officer (labour) was openly supporting the brick kiln owners despite being duty-bound to protect the rights of labourers.

During their hunger strike at the same place a month back, the brick kiln workers were assured by the district officer (labour) that action will be taken against the kiln owners who would violate the minimum wage notification but that was not done.

TRAFFICKING: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested a human trafficker.

Faisalabad FIA Sub-Inspector Zafar Iqbal Rajoka said an FIR was registered against Shahid Javed of Chak 255-GB Rajana, Kazim Mushtaq of Pirmahal and Imran Haider Shah of Chak 200/GB Samundri for extorting Rs3.4m from complainants, including Ahmad Farooq, Muhammad Asif, Muhammad Amer, Kashif Rashid, Waris Ali, Sajid Nazir, Suhail Azam, Shahbaz Ali and Qaiser Gulzar for sending them to Australia.

The FIA arrested Shahid Javed while raids were being conducted to arrest his two other accomplices.

AIRBASE: PAF Rafiqui Airbase Shorkot commander Hamid Rashid Randhawa has urged the officials and elected representatives of three districts Toba, Khanewal and Jhang to appeal to the public to bury the remains of sacrificial animals on Eidul Azha as big birds scavenging on the animals’ remains can cause accidents of air force planes.

He was addressing Birds Hazard Control Committee meeting at Shorkot Cantonment.

PAF flight safety officer Faisal Hasan briefed the participants on the accidents caused by the big birds.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2016