A number of lady health workers (LHWs) staged a protest demonstration against non-payment of their four months salaries by the Punjab government, at Jinnah Garden here on Saturday.

Six LHWs fainted during a clash with police and were shifted to hospital. The LHWs also refused to perform duties in Chief Minister's anti-dengue and polio campaigns.

The protesting LHWs chanted slogans against the Punjab government and demanded of the Chief Minister to immediately clear their pending salaries. Though police had closed all gates of Jinnah Garden to stop LHWs from coming on the Mall Road but they managed to reach Governor House where they staged a sit-in.

Because of demonstration traffic was adversely affected. To express solidarity with the lady health workers Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz Ahmed reached the spot and assured them of every help in getting their demands accepted.

Later taking serious note of the police baton-charge on the lady health workers, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif directed Home Secretary and the Inspector General of Police Punjab to investigate the matter and report him. He also ordered immediate release of two months salaries of the lady health workers.