SAHIWAL: The public rally of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan at 90 Mor, Chichawatni, has been rescheduled from July 5 to July 6 reportedly because of bad weather forecast.

Rai Hasan Nawaz, senior PTI leader in Chichawatni, confirmed by phone that July 6 had been finalised for the PTI rally.

Responding to a question, Mr Nawaz said Imran Khan had earlier planned to arrive at the venue by road but he would now use a helicopter.

It is said Imran’s rally is a part of the campaign for the upcoming by-election in PP-202. The by-election in the constituency is being held because Nauman Langrial who had won the 2018 election on the PTI ticket shifted his loyalties to the PML-N.

He would now contest the by-poll on a PML-N ticket against the PTI’s retired Maj Sarwar. The PPP has withdrawn its candidate being a coalition partner of the PML-N in Punjab as well as the federal government. Political analysts expect a close contest in the constituency.

Muhammad Zafar will make arrangements for the PTI rally. He told Dawn by phone the organisers had asked him to make arrangements for 10,000 chairs. He said a helipad would also be set up near the 90 Mor.

The PTI plans to gather its district and tehsil office-bearers, ticket aspirants for general election, ticket holders and activists from four to five surrounding districts of Sahiwal in the rally.

PROTEST: Around 200 contractual workers of a popular cheese brand continued their strike and protest outside the factory at Chak 34/9-L, near the bypass, for a second consecutive day, demanding implementation of the minimum wage.

They boycotted the morning shift and gathered in front of the factory. They blocked the bypass road and disrupted traffic for 40 minutes. They demanded an increase in the minimum wage to Rs25,000 as declared by the Punjab government in April this year.

Dawn learnt from the sources that the workers of the night shift also denied work on the old salary. The protesters said they were receiving Rs19,000 and Rs16,000. They said the owners were not paying them Rs22,000, which was due for the last one year. They said they could not survive because of price hike and inflation and they should be paid the minimum wage.

Mr Adnan, the owner, during negotiations with workers refused to accept their demand.

Mr Yousaf, assistant director of labour dept, claimed that the workers did not approach the department. The labor department said Rs25,000 minimum wage would be implemented from Aug 1. The protesters reportedly met Deputy Commissioner Khizer Afzal also along with Kisan Ittehad representatives.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2022