RAWALPINDI: Armed with spades, pickaxes and several other tools, around 50 labourers sit along the Lehtrar Road, waiting for people to approach them for work.

On Monday, however, the labourers were not approached by a prospective employer but by Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Mohammad Riaz who directed them to vacate the roadside because they were causing traffic problems, particularly for the large grocery store behind them.

While the others remained silent, four of the men responded angrily. They argued that they had not earned anything for several days, and were now being removed from the site.

They asked the traffic police official to let them remain where they were, saying they were not causing problems for anyone.

In an FIR registered with the Koral police, Mr Riaz said that when he asked the labourers to vacate the roadside, they resisted and shouted slogans. He also claimed that the angered labourers gathered on the road and blocked traffic.

Mr Riaz said upon observing the situation, he called his superiors, who then helped him push back the protesting labourers and restore traffic on the road.

Nawaz Khan, one of the labourers, who was carrying a spade and some other tools, was overpowered by the police.

The officials claimed he threatened the police and resisted them while they were performing their official duties.

But while the police official claimed in his FIR that the labourers were causing problems for the public, he also said they were sitting along the side of a road.

On Mr Riaz`s complaint, the police have registered a case against over 50 labourers and also put one man behind bars.

Police said they were following directives from their superiors to keep the VIP route clear. Staff Reporter