PESHAWAR: Scores of retired government employees on Tuesday staged a protest demonstration outside the Peshawar Press Club and demanded of the federal and provincial governments to increase pension in line with high inflation rate.

They also threatened to besiege the provincial assembly and stage a march on Islamabad to claim ‘rights’.

The protesters were led by All Pakistan Pensioners Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Fida Mohammad Durrani and leaders Ikram Khan, Nowsherwan, Abdul Majeed, Hamayun Khalil and Ishrat Abbas.

They held placards and banners inscribed with slogans for better pension. Mr Fida said both federal and provincial governments had taken steps for the upgradation of posts and increase in allowances of employees of various government departments from KP and tribal areas. He regretted that the retired employees were ignored by the government and therefore, they were in distress.

“We want our pension to be increased in line with the growing inflation rate in the country,” he said.

Mr Durrani demanded a special 30 percent quota for siblings of the retired employees in government jobs and increase in medical and other allowances for pensioners.

He also called for reduction in the age limit for the Old Age Benefit scheme to 65 years from 70 years and provision of house rent for retired employees in line with Article 25 of the Constitution.

The protesters warned that if the federal and provincial governments didn’t accept their demands during the current month, they would besiege the provincial assembly’s building. They also warned that the former employees would march on Islamabad to observe a sit-in and set up a hunger strike camp outside parliament house.

The protesters also announced they would boycott the next general elections.

They also condemned violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and demanded of the United Nations and Muslim world to take necessary action on it.

The protesters urged the prime minister to take up the issue during the upcoming UN General Assembly session.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2017