ISLAMABAD—Hundreds of employees and workers of Walton Tobacco Company appealed to the Chief Justice of Azad Kashmir to take notice of the factory’s illegal closure.
They demanded immediate de-sealing of the premises, as families of more than 400 workers are facing difficult conditions due to workers being unemployed following the closure.
The workers appealed to the Chief Justice of Azad Kashmir for justice, saying they were the victims of exploitation and were suffering due to the administration’s illegal act.
Spokesman Walton Tobacco Company Arif Zia said that the administration of Azad Kashmir is threatening them with severe consequences.
He further said that Walton is the highest-tax-paying company in Azad Kashmir, paying 240 million rupees to the national exchequer every month.
Arif Zia informed the media at a press conference earlier this week that his company was raided illegally and subsequently sealed, and all the products were seized.
Leaders of factory workers Muhammad Ali and Umar Ahmed said the AJK government’s indifferent attitude was disappointing as they did not follow the due process. The government’s action was biased and based on unfounded assumptions.
They said that the factory owners were treated like thieves, which is discouraging for the highest taxpayers and would result in discouraging investors from entering the AJK market.
Arif Zia said that the unemployment rate is increasing in Azad Kashmir due to these factors on the part of the Azad Kashmir government.
Earlier, workers and employees of Walton Tobacco Company held a protest demonstration at Rawalpindi Road outside the factory in Mirpur Chatrapadi, and demanded the administration to immediately de-seal the factory.
They warned the administration to expand the scope of their protest movement to regain their jobs and everyday lives and relieve their suffering families. The workers said their families could not celebrate Eid because the factory was sealed during the holy month of Ramadan.
Walton Tobacco Company spokesperson Arif Zia said that the Azad Kashmir government should first crackdown against selling illegal cigarettes in the market.
