FAISALABAD, March 1: The Muttahida Labour Federation and the Mazdoor Kissan Mahaz have termed the labour policies and Industrial Relations Ordinance as detrimental to the workers interests.

A joint meeting held here on Monday observed that the labour policy provided no protection to the workers while employers were given sweeping powers to deprive the employees of legitimate right and promoting contractual system.

The meeting noted with concern that the prices of commodities, including flour, had gone beyond the reach of workers. The meeting observed that the labour laws were being flouted by the employers with impunity and no action was being taken against them by the labour department.

The meeting noted that law ensured no protection to kiln workers and the owners were paying a very nominal price of their hard labour. It said more than 20 million children had been working in different industrial units, kilns, workshops and cottage industries but they had no protection either.

It demanded that the government should announce a relief package for workers, farmers and low paid employees in the next financial budget. The meeting decided to hold a round-table conference of labour organizations of the province for deciding future line of action so that the government could be forced to provide due rights to labourers and protect their lives and prestige.

SHAHBAZ SHARIF: The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) claims that party chief Shahbaz Sharif will return to the country next month.

In a statement here on Monday, MNA Abid Sher Ali, MPAs Malik Mohammad Nawaz and Shaikh Ijaz Ahmad and former parliamentarians Chaudhry Sher Ali, Mian Abdul Mannan, Mian Farooq, Khwaja Mohammad Islam, Rana Mohammad Afzal, Akram Ansari and Zahid Goraya said the party chief had decided to return to Pakistan in the larger interest of the country.

They claimed that PML-N leaders and workers were ready to offer all sacrifices for the return of the Sharif family. They announced that the PML-N would launch a countrywide protest movement against the Musharraf government, and a final schedule in this regard would be announced within a fortnight.

ASHURA: Tight security arrangements have been made by the local police and administration for the Ashura. Special police teams have been constituted to patrol the sensitive areas of the city, Saddar, Chak Jhumra, Samundri, Tandlianwala and Jaranwala. Armed police commandos have been deputed outside imambargahs, mosques, religious institutions and other troubled spots.

KILLED: A passer-by woman was killed when a stray bullet hit her in Khurrianwala on Monday.

Imran and Ihsan groups exchanged fire following a quarrel on a petty dispute as a result of which a stray bullet hit a passerby woman, Zubaida Bibi, killing her on the spot. Police have registered a case against Ihsan, Imran, Adnan and Rafiq.

LOOTED: Dacoits looted cloth and yarn worth Rs1.8 million from an industrial unit in Chak 61-RB here on Sunday night. Some masked men forced their entry into the factory of Fakharuz Zaman and fled after collecting cloth and yarn worth Rs1.8 million.