FAISALABAD Scores of power loom worker along with women, most of them wives of labourers, staged a rally here on Saturday in protest against factory owners and the government for not enhancing their wages promised by them last year.

The district government has constituted a committee, comprising members from power loom workers and owners, to resolve the issue of wages. However, the workers rejected the committee, saying that it would not provide benefit to them and 'cheat' them. They said industrialists had been earning a lot, but were not ready to give promised raise to labourers.

The rally started from Ghulam Mohammadabad and after passing through main Narawala Road reached Zila Council Chowk. The protesters blocked traffic at this point and chanted slogans against the government and factory owners. Then they marched to Clock Tower intersection and after taking a round of it reached the press club.

Talking to reporters, they alleged that the district administration had been deceiving them because of the influence of industrialists. They said a series of meetings had taken place over the issue, but to no avail. They vowed to continue their protest till acceptance of their demands. They said labourers had neither been given appointment letters nor social security cards issued to them.

On the other hand, power loom owners are also observing a strike and demanding police protection. According to them, the enraged labourers often damaged their factories.