22 August 2004	Sunday	05 Rajab 1425

QUETTA, Aug 21: The government has withheld salaries of a large number of government employees working in Khuzdar and other areas of Balochistan to punish them for their support to nationalist parties.

This was claimed by opposition leader in Balochistan Assembly Mir Kachkol Ali advocate while talking to newsmen here on Friday.

He said that various government departments "have not paid August's salary" to their employees in Khuzdar and other areas "considering them supporters of nationalist parties."

"It is a great injustice with government employees," he remarked, adding that these employees were facing hardship as a result.

He said the government should not victimize its employees as they were not committing any sin by supporting parties of their choice.

He said that a large number of employees were also supporting the ruling party and even participating in its public meetings.

"The government is not taking any action against them," he said.

The government must change its discriminatory attitude towards government employees supporting the opposition and release their salaries without delay.