KASUR: The Kasur Municipal Committee opened the Kasur Gardens, a public park in the city, to the public on Sunday.

The park was locked in March when 25 security guards went on strike over the nonpayment of their salaries.

No district government department, after the promulgation of the new local government system, was ready to own the park. Now, under the new arrangements, the Kasur Municipal Committee will look after the park.

The closure of the park had triggered a wave of protests among the park goers who demanded its reopening.

The sacked guards, all daily wagers, also joined the protests and demanded the release of their salaries in Ramazan.

Muhammad Shaukat, one of the sacked employees, said they had submitted applications to several district government officers for the release of salaries but in vain. He also said that security personnel had to do a 12-hour shift, instead of eight hours, every day.

Kasur Municipal Committee Chairman Muhammad Ayaz Khan, said he had called back the employees of the park but the committee could not pay pending salaries to guards. He also said that the committee had no plan to recruit any guard in the future.

Another park called Ladies Park near the railway station has been converted into a Ramazan bazaar.

Deputy Commissioner Amara Khan said the municipal committee would take care of the park. She said she would manage security of the park too.