LAKKI MARWAT: The former employees of Lucky Cement factory have announced they will intensify protest against their sacking after Eidul Azha.

The announcement was made after a delegation of sacked workers led by Ismail Khan met the district administration`s officials led by deputy commissioner at the District Headquarters Complex in Tajazai on Thursday.

Ismail Khan later told reporters that the deputy commissioner had assured visitors that a committee comprising district nazim, deputy commissioner, district police officer and Marwat Qaumi Jirga members would be constituted to resolve the workers issues with Lucky Cement.

He claimed the Lucky Cement management had sacked dozens of workers without reason.

`We will bring the factory`s operation to a halt if the committee formed by the local administration fails to resolve the workers` grievances,` he said. Later, MNA from Muzaffargarh Jamshed Dasti visited the camp of sacked workers in Darra Pezu town and expressed solidarity with them.

He criticised MPs from the district and held them responsible for the ordeal of workers. Dasti said company owners earned the millions of rupees worth of profit but were not interested in caring for workers.

He urged the provincial and federal governments to take note of the matter and ensure corrective measures by the company.

FALCONS SEIZED: The wildlife department seized falcons at a hunting camp here on Wednesday.

Bannu division DFO (wildlife) Khan Malook Khan told Dawn that on a tip-off, a team of the department raided an illegal hunting camp in Kashu area and seized 16 falcons.

He said four poachers, including Aziz Ahmad, Abdul Rehman, Barkhurdar and Hakim Khan, all from Mianwali district of Punjab, were also taken into custody.

The DFO said the international laws had declared falcons protected birds for being extinct, while hunting of falcons was banned in the country. He said those involved in illegal hunting of falcons would be taken to task.

TEACHER SUSPENDED: Lakki Marwat district nazim Ishfaq Ahmad Khan Meenakhel on Wednesday suspended a primary schoolteacher for allegedly beating up a fifth grader and ordered inquiry against him.

The development came as the boy`s father, Rasool Mohammad, met the nazim in his office here.

The man claimed his child enrolled in the Government Primary School, Wanda Mash, was thrashed by his teacher on Sept 14. He demanded strict action against the teacher.