SWABI: District police on Wednesday arrested 35 sacked workers of a multinational tobacco company under the 3 MPO to prevent them from what they had threatened to commit self-immolation.

Police sources told Dawn the detained workers were shifted to Dera Ismail Khan judicial lockup.

They included central president of Mehnat Kash Union (MKU) Mr Ibrarullah.

The company had fired 141 employees on Nov 21, sparking protest by the sacked workers.

Sources said a meeting of workers`leaders and the company officials was held at the DC office on Tuesday, but due to persistentdeadlock, the workers threatened to commit self-immolation in front of the company`s main gate. It was this fear that forced the district administration to opt for 3 MPO, said an official.

When contacted, DPO Javid Iqbal told Dawn the stalemate didn`t end between the company and the fired workers and there were fears that some workers might commit self-immolation.

Meanwhile, immediately after the arrest of workers, MKU chairman Wisal Khan, general secretary Nihar Ali, vice-president Iftikhar Ali and other leaders held a meeting, vowing to continue their peaceful protest till the workers`restoration.

They rejected the allegation of self-immolation, saying it was a pretext used by the district admin-istration and the company to arrest the workers. However, they said it was true that nothing short of reinstatement was acceptable to them. They alleged that the company flagrantly violated the labour laws.

During the last 45 days, the workers continued their protest amid talks with the company`s management seeking their reinstatement, but these measures failed to produce any result.

Minister for Labour and Mineral Development Anisa Zeb Tahirkhell, District Nazim Ameer Rehman, Deputy Commissioner Matiullah Khan, District Police Officer Javid Iqbal and various other leaders had arranged talks between the worle ers and the firm`s officials but they failed to strike a deal.While the company was not ready to reinstate them the workers plainly rejected the package offered by the company, saying nothing short of their restoration was acceptable to them, an official, who took part in the negotiations, said, adding the bring of workers was part of the company`s retrenchment policy.

DEMAND: Topi tehsil council members on Wednesday demanded immediate reconstitution of the Parent-Teacher Councils (PTCs) across the tehsil.

Speaking at a meeting, the councillors said they would monitor the funds provided by the government to the PTCs for repair of public sector schools. They also demanded adequate provision of funds to them to meet the expectations of their voters.