Strike by ex-workers of Hattar factory enters fifth day.

HARIPUR -- The sacked workers of a cement factory in the Hattar Industrial Estate here continued their hunger strike for the fifth consecutive day on Monday as three of the protesters were shifted to the Haripur Trauma Centre when their condition deteriorated, police and hospital sources said.

The factory administration has filed an appeal before the larger bench of the National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC) Islamabad challenging the commission's previous order passed by a single bench to reinstate the sacked workers.

Mohammad Faisal Awan, an axed worker, claimed the factory administration had fired over 100 labourers about 18 months ago without paying them their terminal benefits they were entitled to under the labour laws.

He said nine sacked workers had moved NIRC, which had ordered their restoration with payment of due benefits, last week.

However, when the sacked workers approached the factory administration with the NIRC order and sought restoration it refused to reinstate them, Mr Awan pointed out.

He said this forced the workers to go on a hunger strike till death in front of the factory's main gate on Thursday last.

District development advisory committee chairman MPA Arshad Ayub Khan, former MNA Babar Nawaz Khan, MPA Gohar Nawaz Khan, the...