TOBA TEK SINGH, Aug 4: Gojra city police on Friday arrested leaders of various political parties on the charge of instigating the powerloom workers to observe strike against the owners.

Those arrested are; Labour Party Pakistan (LPP) central secretary general Farooq Tariq, PPP leader Saifullah Cheema, National Trade Union Federation central chairman Yousaf Baloch and Pakistan Bhatta Mazdoor Union central secretary general Mahmood Ahmad Butt.

As many as 35 people, including 30 powerloom workers, have so far been arrested under MPO 16 and sections 148, 149 and 188 of the PPC.

Meanwhile, nine more powerloom workers, including Faisalabad Labour Qaumi Movement chairman Mian Abdul Qayyum, were arrested on Friday. As soon as Mian Qayyum reached Gojra on Friday to show solidarity with the workers, Gojra city police took him into custody. Police had arrested 26 powerloom workers on Thursday who have been shifted to Jhang.

Labour Party district general secretary Tariq Mahmood, Awami Jamhoori Party leader Rana Azam and office-bearers of National Workers Party, in the meantime, condemned the action taken against trade union leaders and powerloom workers. They claimed that Gojra city police station SHO was backing the owners against the workers.

They demanded immediate release of all the arrested politicians, trade union leaders and workers and quashment of cases registered against them.