TOBA TEK SINGH: Scores of brick kiln workers, including women and children, staged a rally on Friday demanding fair wages.

Led by Punjab Bhatta Mazdoor Union General Secretary Muhammad Shabbir, the protest began from the Gojra Road municipal octroi post.

Carrying red flags, banners and placards, the workers chanted slogans against district labour welfare officials for allegedly siding with kiln owners instead of addressing their grievances.

They marched to Shahbaz Chowk, where labour leaders Sajida Parveen, Ghulam Rasool, Muhammad Ashfaq and Muhammad Nawab spoke, highlighting that despite a government notification fixing wages at Rs2,738 per 1,000 bricks from July 1, 2024, kiln owners were still paying only Rs1,000 to 1,500.

Speakers claimed that workers who lodged complaints faced police harassment. They demanded the establishment of a social security office in Toba Tek Singh and the issuance of social security cards to all kiln workers.

The protesters staged a sit-in at Shahbaz Chowk.

Labour Welfare Assistant Director Muhammad Anwar held talks with their leaders and assured them that a meeting between kiln workers and owners would be arranged by the deputy commissioner in a week to resolve the wage issue, after which the protest ended.

Labour leaders warned if the issue remained unresolved by March 25, they would march on Lahore to stage a sit-in outside the Chief Minister’s House.

JAILED: The Jaranwala additional district and sessions judge on Friday sentenced Ghulam Rasool and Abdul Rahman to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment each and fined them Rs800,000 in a narcotics case.

Satiana police had arrested the two a year ago after recovering a large quantity of drugs from them while they were transporting the contraband for supply to drug dealers.

ILLEGAL: The Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) has declared Wapda City Phase 2 an illegal housing scheme.

On Friday, the FDA issued a public notice warning people against investing in this unapproved project, which is located on the land of Chaks 192-RB and 201-RB.

BURNT: A youth was critically burnt after two unidentified men set him on fire in Faisalabad on Friday.

According to reports, 18-year-old Akash Maseeh of Habib Colony was walking home from Salik Town when two assailants on a motorcycle sprayed petrol on him and set his clothes on fire.

Locals rushed to extinguish the flames and shifted him to the burn unit of Allied Hospital.

Faisalabad Sadar police have registered a case against the unidentified attackers and launched an investigation.

BODY: The body of an elderly man who drowned in the River Ravi near Sheraza Mehr Shah Pattan in Tandlianwala on Thursday was recovered by Rescue 1122 divers on Friday. Rescuers said 65-year-old Muhammad Amin was attempting to cross the river despite warnings from onlookers that the water level had risen due to recent rains. He went missing in the deep water.

After two days of search efforts, rescuers recovered his body and handed it over to his family.

RAPE: A man was booked for allegedly raping his 14-year-old niece in Siddiq Park locality of Gojra.

According to the FIR lodged under Section 376 of the PPC, the complainant and his wife had gone to a hospital while their daughter was home alone when her maternal uncle allegedly raped her and fled.

In another incident, a woman was kidnapped in Gojra. Complainant Asif, of Abid Park, reported in his FIR registered under Section 365 of the PPC that his wife, Saima, was abducted by Adnan and his two accomplices while she was visiting a medical store.

Police are investigating both cases.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2025