Hundreds of powerlooms owners had taken out a procession from the Faizabad industrial area to press the authorities to accept their demands. Powerlooms Owners Association chairman Gulzar Ahmad and All Pakistan Sizing Industries Association chairman Mirza Shafiq Ahmad were leading the procession.
Some participants started pelting stones on the office of the Labour Qaumi Movement. As a result, two activists of the labour organization were injured seriously.
The labourers claimed that some of the powerloom owners also opened firing in the air to harass them and threatened to kidnap some of the industrial workers.
Representatives of the powerloom workers alleged that the owners of industrial units were playing with the sentiments of the labour force to create law and order situation in the city.
They alleged that some powerloom owners also damaged the signboards and furniture of the labour office. Any such step by the powerloom owners would be retaliated, they warned.
Later, powerloom owners staged a sit-in in front of the offices of Gulberg DSP and also blocked Circular Road. They chanted slogans against labour leaders and demanded their immediate arrest.
They also held a demonstration in front of the office of the District Nazim.
They alleged that some so-called labour leaders were using the platform of powerloom owners and were blackmailing them.
They also threatened to block major city roads in case their demands were not accepted within next 48 hours.
They demanded immediate arrest of the people who injured factory owners Hamraz and Mumtaz after threatening them with dire consequences.
Acting District Nazim Rana Nasarullah Ghuman held parlays with the powerloom owners and assured them that action would be taken against the culprits. The protesters dispersed on this assurance.
Meanwhile, around 100 powerlooms units in Faizabad area observed complete strike. The powerloom owners threatened to close their units for an indefinite period if their demands were not accepted.
According to a district administration spokesman, a joint meeting of the powerlooms workers and owners would be held at the Circuit House here to resolve the issue. The district coordination officer and the district police officer would attend the meeting to be presided over by the District Nazim.