SAHIWAL: Gypsies blocked Lahore-Multan National Highway after their tents caught fire allegedly due to the negligence of Chichawatni Municipal Corporation (CMC) employees, reported a local media outlet.
The gypsies claimed that CMC employees had dumped solid waste next to their dwelling due to which when the fire broke out it gutted their tents as well.
Traffic on the National Highway was brought to a pause for almost two hours. Solid waste was dumped at the approved disposal site, according to CMC officials.
Anwar, Zahoor, Aslem, Sarbuland and Muhammad Hussain claimed that their tents had been destroyed by the fire.
Chichawatni Assistant Commissioner Qasir Azim and CMC Chairman Rana Muhammad Ajmal negotiated with the protesters. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Amjad Javed Kambhoo said that it was decided during negotiations that the gypsies would be compensated for their losses.
CMC chairman pledged to hold an inquiry into the matter and punish employees if they were found to be guilty.
