KASUR, Aug 10: Over 250 powerloom workers on Friday staged a protest demonstration at Kasur Garden, demanding raise in wages and other benefits for them. The workers, who were holding banners and placards inscribed with their demands, asked their employers to give them facilities like social security, old-age benefit fund, housing and weekly days off.

The Ittehad Powerloom Labour Union and the National Trade Union Federation led the demonstration at which labour representatives Farooq Tariq, Mian Qayoom, Yousaf Baloch, Moin Nawaz Punu, Maqsood Mujahid, Chaudhry Imtiaz and Muhammad Aslam demanded that workers’ wages be increased in accordance with a August 10, 2006, notification. They said that workers should also be given 15 per cent raise in wages like government employees. They also demanded schools for workers’ children and hospitals.

Later, the demonstration moved to the DCO Office, where workers again slammed their employers and the government. They dispersed peacefully after the district labour officer assured them that their demands would be considered soon.

INJURED: Three robbers injured a motorcyclist on Pattoki-Chunian Road on Friday and took away his motorcycle.

Muhammad Asif of Chunian’s Zaheerabad Colony was on his way to Pattoki when robbers tried to stop him near Rosa Tibba village, but he did not. On this, one of the robbers fired at him and injured him seriously. Later, robbers fled with Asif’s yet unregistered motorcycle. Asif was taken to Chunian Civil Hospital from where he was referred to Jinnah Hospital in Lahore.