KARACHI, Sept 22: At least three upcountry trains were delayed because of a strike by workers in protest against the alleged beating up of a union leader by police at the Cantonment Station on Thursday.

The affected trains were the Allama Iqbal Express, Pakistan Express and Tezgam which set off only after the protesting workers resumed their work in the afternoon.

The bridge and signals staff had gathered at the diesel workshop to stage a demonstration against non-payment of their salaries that are normally disbursed to them between the 15th and 18th of every month.

While the demonstration was under way, some other workers led by their union leader, Arif Mashwani, arrived at the workshop but they were stopped by the railway police. There was a scuffle between the two sides at around 11am during which Mr Mashwani was allegedly beaten up by some of the policemen. Railway Union chief Manzoor Razi told Dawn that work was immediately stopped. Some senior officials intervened and got the protesting workers’ salaries released and made those involved in the manhandling of the labour apologise.

Later, the workers resumed their duties at around 2.30 pm.

Karachi Railway chief Aftab Memon and spokesperson Kamran Saeed did not attend their cellphones despite repeated attempts by this reporter to seek their version.