FAISALABAD, July 31: A large number of labourers of Sadhar industrial area on Thursday protested against the police for its failure to arrest an MPA who was booked for killing a labourer.

The protesting labourers blocked the main Jhang Road and chanted slogans against the Thekariwala police for dealing MPA Ajmal Asif leniently.

Holding placards and banners, the labourers demanded immediate arrest of the accused MPA and his accomplices.

Addressing the protesters, labour leaders Rana Tahir, Aslam Mairaj and others said that police had failed to protect the rights of workers. They said the police were reluctant to arrest the accused nominated in the FIR.

Receiving information, Madina Town SP Malik Yousaf along with a police contingent rushed to the spot and assured the protestors that their demands would be forwarded to the high-ups. Subsequently, labourers dispersed peacefully.

MPA Ajmal Asif and his accomplices were booked on June 27 on the charges of killing Ajmal whose body was retrieved from a factory set on fire by some unidentified people.

The factory was torched on June 24 last when scores of labourers were protesting in favour of their demand to raise their wages and removal of advance system.

Rana Tahir said labourers had called off their strike temporarily as the administration invited them for dialogues.

He said the strike would be resumed if talks remained inconclusive.