FAISALABAD, July 15: Powerloom workers took out a protest procession and staged a sit-in against, what they called, indifferent attitude of the factory owners , arrest of their leaders and registration of case against them on the second consecutive day here on Thursday.

They observed a complete strike in all industrial areas of the city and held meetings in Lakkar Mandi, Partab Nagar, Jhang Road and adjoining areas. They carried banners and placards inscribed with slogans against police, administration and factory owners.

They marched on city roads and staged a sit-in outside the district office of district Nazim Zahid Nazir. They raised slogans against the police for implicating their leaders in false cases. Their leaders addressed the participants in the march.

They said the powerloom owners had converted their units into torture chambers as labourers were being forced to work at the lowest wages. They alleged that the officials of the social security department and other government agencies were also playing in their hands.

Meanwhile, a press note issued on behalf of the district government says that: "It was decided here to call off the powerloom strike after successful negotiations between the representatives of powerloom workers and the owners held under supervision of district Nazim Zahid Nazir in his office.

"Both the parties submitted their problems and demands in the meeting which were discussed at length besides discussing other matters of mutual interest. On raising the issue relating to the increase in wages and social security matters by the workers, the district Nazim announced the constitution of a committee headed by the labour DO for settling the issue.

The committee would comprise two representatives each of the workers and the owners in addition to representation of departments concerned. The committee, after listening to both the parties, would settle the issue of increase in wages and social security and submit a compliance report to the district Nazim within a week."

Later, police sources said the arrested labour leaders had been released late on Wednesday night. They said the fate of the case registered against over 50 labourers and their leaders, including Powerloom Workers Ittehad president Asif Khan Lodhi would be decided later.

It may be remembered that the powerloom workers had served a charter of demands to owners demanding increase in charges, provision of social security and old age benefit facilities, weekly holiday and other benefits allowed to them under various laws.

But the owners and the workers clashed with each other on Tuesday night and the latter observed strike on Wednesday and Thursday. The police had arrested two labour leaders and booked 50 others but released both the leaders after some 'mutual understanding.'