Case lodged against sugar mills official

Published December 1, 2002

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Nov 30: The conflict between the workers union and administration of Chashma Sugar Mills, which had begun in the last crushing season, took a new turn on Friday.

A case against the mills general manager was registered at the university police station for keeping vice-president of the Ittehad Workers Union, Zakirullah, in illegal confinement for hours.

According to details, workers of the mills had applied for the registration of their union with the labour department. The assistant labour director, Faridullah Khan, after scrutiny accepted the union papers for the registration.

When the administration failed to stop formation and registration of the workers body, it ordered the services termination of President Abdul Nisar, Vice-president Zakirullah and General Secretary Siddiq-ur-Rehman of the union and told them to vacate their quarters in the mills colony.

Mr Zakirullah on Friday tried to see the general manager in his office for a dialogue, but allegedly he was detained illegally by the security staff of the mills on the orders of the manager. When released, he took the matter before his colleagues and a case against the general manager was registered with the police.

The union got an status quo from the PHC against the termination of services and vacation of residential quarters, but the mills administration disconnected the water and power supply to their houses.