Pakistan : Workers' protest over non-payment of salaries turns violent
KARACHI, July 5: Scores of workers of a garment factory, including women, staged a violent protest in Korangi Industrial Area over non-payment of their salaries and a bonus on the occasion
of Eid, police said.
They said the protesters took to the streets, blocked the main Korangi Road near Vita Chowrangi and lit bonfires.
As a result, the vehicular traffic was suspended on the road and a large number of commuters were trapped there for a considerable period.
Then the angry protesters pelted stones on stationary vehicles, smashed their windscreens and damaged at least five cars. They also set the car of a factory manager on fire, which was destroyed.
A heavy contingent of police rushed to the spot to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.
Area SHO Abdul Rasool Siyal said that the police asked the protesters to clear the road as people were facing immense inconveniences for several hours. When they refused to listen, the police resorted to baton charge. Rangers also reached the scene and helped the police in dispersing the mob, he added.
He said that the police arrested three workers of the ADM Garments. A case was registered against the three held workers on behalf of the state for their alleged involvement in rioting as they torched one car and damaged others, the SHO added.
Following the violent protest, the factory management fulfilled the demands of the workers, giving them their salaries as well as the Eid bonus, the SHO said.
The case was registered at the Korangi Industrial Area police station under Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) and 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage to amount of one hundred rupees or (in case of agricultural produce, ten rupees) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Published by Daily Dawn on July 5, 2016
