KARACHI: The Central Labour Minister, Mr. Mohammad Hanif, will recommend to the Presidential Cabinet to impose a ban on strikes to improve the economic conditions… . The Minister, who left for Islamabad yesterday [Oct 30] after having failed to bring about a settlement of the dispute in Landhi, told newsmen that everyone now realised that it (strike) was going too far. So far, he did not give any thought to it, but almost everyone he met in Karachi, including labour leaders, demanded a general ban on strikes. He will apprise President Bhutto of the demand, and suggest its acceptance. — Staff reporter

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies in Islamabad,] A Foreign Office spokesman today [Oct 30] expressed deep shock at the killing by armed Indian guards of yet another four Pakistani prisoners of war, and injuring of others. The spokesman said that the Government of Pakistan has sent a strong protest to the Government of India at the barbarous treatment of the Pakistani prisoners of war in flagrant violation of the Geneva Convention of 1949… .

This is the third incident during October. In the earlier incidents this month, 14 prisoners of war were shot dead, and more than a score injured. … Commenting on these incidents, the spokesman said this was clearly unacceptable, and added that it was incredible that the sick prisoners of war would try to escape, although accompanied by armed Indian guards. — News agencies

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2022