April 17, 2008	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 10, 1429

MULTAN, April 16: Police arrested six people in connection with Monday’s riots late on Tuesday night.

The New Multan police raided Sharifpura to arrest the people allegedly involved in Monday’s riots and to preempt a protest by powerloom workers.

Irshad Hussain, a powerloom worker from Sharifpura, said the police surrounded the area at 3:30am and arrested six people Muhammad Rafiq, Rashid, Muhammad Iliyas, Abdul Ghaffar, Bashir Ahmed and Ghulam Abbas.

Sajjad Ali, also a resident of Sharifpura, said he was witness to the police crackdown. He said the police arrested his neighbours Rafiq, Rashid and Bashir. He said the police arrested all those who opened their doors.

Powerloom worker Abdul Shakoor said the police also raided powerloom units in Sharifpura, but could not arrest any worker because they had locked the doors from inside.

Powerloom Association General-Secretary Khaliq Qandeel said the police were harassing workers by raiding their houses. He said police were arresting workers instead of Mepco staff who were involved in firing at people.

Muhammad Akhtar Butt, a representative of the Quami Tajir Ittihad, demanded that the police release all those arrested.

District Police Officer Muhammad Nawaz Warraich was not available for comments. However, New Multan police official Muhammad Riaz denied any police operation was underway.

MEPCO LOSSES: The initial losses suffered by the Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) facilities and offices in the riots have been estimated at Rs 6.5 million.

Director admin Khalid Javed told APP on Wednesday that the losses include the damage to Mepco office property, as well as property of its employees. He said that motorcycles and bikes of many employees had been burnt or damaged by the mob.

He said the case for compensation to Mepco employees would be recommended to the authorities.

Wapda hydelpower employees union meanwhile staged a protest rally on Wednesday against the powerlooms association and demanded compensation for the losses incurred during the riots.

They also called upon the government to reinstate the former chief executive of Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) Brig Tariq Rasool who was suspended after the April 14 riots.