HARIPUR: The workers of a private phosphate manufacturing unit on Friday called off hunger strike after the district administration and labour department promised to address their genuine complaints.

Over 200 Agritech Industry workers had gone on a hunger strike until death on Wednesday against what they called the unlawful factory closure by the management and demanded its reopening.

They set up a camp until Friday when local politician Yousuf Ayub Khan, Tahir Amin and Qamar Hayat from Hazara Labour Federation intervened and brought the leadership of protesters to the negotiation table with labour director Irfanullah in the office of additional deputy commissioner Baidullah Shah.

District admin promises to address complaints

After two days of negotiations, the workers agreed to call off strike until Tuesday when the representatives of Agritech Industry, industries secretary, local politicians and workers will sit across the table to end the three months long stalemate between workers and factory management.

“They (workers) have agreed to call off the strike,” said additional DC and focal person for negotiations Baidullah Shah.

He said all stakeholders would have the final round of negotiations in his office on Tuesday and would resolve the three months old dispute over the factory’s closure and joblessness of workers.

Ujala Labour Union of Agritech Industry general secretary Qari Mohammad Sarfraz also confirmed the calling off of the strike and said he hoped that the management would resume production.

KILLED: A man was killed and four suffered injuries after two motorcycles collided head-on with a tractor trolley near Kahka village.

Mohammad Ashraf died immediately.

The body and the injured were shifted to the Trauma Centre.

CONTEST: A declamation contest was jointly organised by the University of Haripur and the district police here on Friday to pay tribute to the martyred police officials.

Fourteen students of government and private educational institutions participated in the contest and highlighted the police’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. District police officer Dr Zahidullah Jan distributed prizes to the contest winners.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2019