Violence erupts at WASA Faisalabad office, 52 booked

Rival unions clash over alleged fake degree; departmental action follows

FAISALABAD:

The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) head office turned into a scene of violence after a clash between two labour unions, prompting police to register a case against 52 suspects and the agency to suspend regular employees and dismiss work-charge workers allegedly involved in the incident.

Sources said, tensions between the Mazdoor Ittehad Union and the WASA Employees Union escalated following a heated argument over allegations that the matriculation certificate of Mazdoor Ittehad Union President Mian Maqsood Ahmed was fake.

The verbal dispute reportedly turned physical, with members of the rival groups allegedly engaging in a brawl before the situation escalated into vandalism and stone-pelting at the WASA head office. The incident caused panic among employees and visitors.

On the complaint of WASA Administrative Officer Ehsan Siddique, police registered a case against 52 people on allegations including vandalism, stone-pelting and issuing death threats.

Those nominated in the case include Mazdoor Ittehad Union President Mian Maqsood Ahmed and Secretary Khalid Khan, while WASA Employees Union President Adnan Randhawa, Secretary Mukhtar Baloch and Chairman Rustam Masih have also been named along with others.

Police have launched an investigation, while members of both groups have levelled allegations against each other.

Meanwhile, the WASA administration has taken departmental action against employees allegedly involved in the clash.

All regular employees accused of participating in the incident have been suspended and proceedings initiated against them under the PEEDA Act, while work-charge employees involved in the clash have been dismissed.

The competent authority said no employee would be allowed to disrupt law and order at the WASA head office and that action would be taken against members of both unions without discrimination.

The final facts of the incident will emerge after completion of the police investigation and departmental proceedings.