FAISALABAD, June 13: At least 70 per cent powerloom units in the city remained closed on Monday as the workers observed a strike to press for their demands and took out a rally from Panj Pulian industrial area. They were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans for the abolishment of contractual system, increase in salaries and provision of fringe benefits.

Meanwhile, two industrial workers sustained serious injuries when some men of owners of powerloom factories allegedly pelted stones and bricks at the workers when they were on way to the DCO offices, injuring Rana Gulzar and Shafiq seriously. The attackers managed to escape.

However, the workers continued the protest and staged a demonstration on Jhang Road. They demanded a package for powerloom workers and their enrolment at the Social Security Institution, besides provision of other benefits.

They also staged a three-hour-long demonstration in front of the DCO offices.

The DCO, along with other government officials, held a meeting with the labourers’ representatives and assured them that their demands would be met.

The powerloom workers of Panj Pulian, Sidhupura, Faizabad, Rehmanabad, Qadirabad, Janabad, Marzipura and Small Industrial Estate participated in the strike.

terminated: A month-long tussle between an assistant professor and a contractually appointed lady lecturer ended on the termination of their services from the GC University Faisalabad here on Monday.

Information gleaned by this correspondent revealed that assistant professor Hamid Khalil and lecturer Miss Tabassum of the Psychology Department developed an altercation over some minor issue during the study tour of 29 students to the GC University, Lahore.

Both the officials involved in mudslinging and blamed each other for misappropriating of funds and disgracing the prestige of the institution.

Their continuous tussle after the tour had not only created problems for the academic staff but also hampered the educational activities of students.

The lady lecturer moved a written complaint before vice-chancellor Dr Asif Iqbal Khan, claiming that she was misbehaved and indecently treated by assistant professor Hamid Khalil during the tour.

At this, the vice-chancellor constituted an inquiry committee comprising dean Rana Shahid Mehboob, department chairman Muhammad Arshad and deputy registrar (admin) Jawed Aslam.

The inquiry team reportedly tried its best to reconcile the matter, but to no avail. The committee recommended the termination of their services to the vice-chancellor who ordered for the repatriation of the assistant professor to his parent Education Department and terminated the services of Miss Tabassum.