Faisalabad Powerloom Workers Protest in Toba Tek Singh
Scores of powerloom workers from Faisalabad’s Ghulam Muhammadabad industrial area staged a protest demonstration in Toba Tek Singh on Monday. The Faisalabad powerloom workers protest targeted the in-charge of the Siddhupura police post, whom they accuse of torturing a 13-year-old worker and his mother.
The protesters said the minor was arrested in what they called a baseless old case. They demanded his immediate release.
What the Protesters Allege
Addressing the demonstration, Labour Qaumi Movement chairman Baba Latif Insari laid out the workers’ version of events. He alleged that powerloom worker Ghulam Mustafa had demanded payment of his wages from his employer.
According to Insari, the police then raided Mustafa’s house, allegedly to please the factory owner. He claimed the police tortured the 13-year-old boy and his mother before arresting the minor without any valid case against him.
Insari further alleged that the boy was beaten at the police station as well. He warned that if Ghulam Mustafa was not released, the workers would stage a sit-in outside the police post.
The allegations could not be independently verified. The police had not issued a detailed public response to the specific claims at the time of reporting.
A Sector Already Under Strain
The protest comes at a difficult time for Faisalabad’s power-loom sector. The industry has been shedding jobs for months as mills struggle with high costs and weak demand. Our earlier reporting found that the crisis has deepened to the point where 100,000 workers have lost their jobs.
Against that backdrop, a dispute over unpaid wages carries extra weight. For daily-wage workers with no safety net, delayed pay is not an inconvenience. It is a crisis. That is why workers’ rights remain a live issue across Pakistan, from factory floors to government policy on pension coverage for informal workers.
Police Dismissal in Toba Tek Singh
In a separate development on the same day, Faisalabad Regional Police Officer Inamur Rehman Malik dismissed Sub-Inspector Hakim Ali from service. The officer, a former station house officer of City Toba Tek Singh police station, was found guilty of gross misconduct.
An inquiry conducted by a superintendent of police found that Hakim Ali had illegally detained an innocent rickshaw driver for seven days. The officer failed to give a satisfactory explanation for his actions.
A review of his service record revealed a poor disciplinary history. He had reportedly faced suspension and dismissal on multiple occasions in the past. After departmental proceedings, the RPO ordered his dismissal.
Accidents and an FIA Case
The same district roundup carried two more items. A 70-year-old woman, Surayya Bibi, died and her 75-year-old husband Abdul Rehman was critically injured when a motorcycle-rickshaw hit them in Gojra on Sunday night. The couple had travelled from Layyah to visit relatives and were crossing Jhang Road on foot when the accident happened.
Separately, a special judge in Faisalabad rejected the pre-arrest bail applications of brothers Rehan Babar and Salman Babar. The Federal Investigation Agency has accused them of receiving Rs38.7 million and providing fake UK sponsorship certificates to citizens on the pretext of securing jobs in the United Kingdom. The FIA told the court it had collected witness statements, bank records and call recordings during its inquiry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did powerloom workers protest in Toba Tek Singh?
Workers from Faisalabad’s Ghulam Muhammadabad area protested against the Siddhupura police post in-charge, alleging he tortured a 13-year-old worker and his mother and arrested the minor in a baseless case after the worker demanded his wages.
What did the protest leader demand?
Labour Qaumi Movement chairman Baba Latif Insari demanded the boy’s immediate release and warned of a sit-in outside the police post if he was not freed.
Was a police officer dismissed in the same district?
Yes. Faisalabad RPO Inamur Rehman Malik dismissed SI Hakim Ali, former SHO of City Toba Tek Singh, for illegally detaining an innocent rickshaw driver for seven days. The officer had a poor disciplinary record with past suspensions.
What is the state of Faisalabad’s power-loom industry?
The sector is in crisis, with 100,000 workers estimated to have lost their jobs as mills face high costs and weak demand.
Source: Dawn
