TIMERGARA: The provincial chapter of Sub Engineers Welfare Association (Sewa) on Tuesday announced pen down strike for indefinite period to seek service structure for its members and upgradation of their posts.

The announcement was made during a convention of sub-engineers of Malakand division held in Chakdara with Sewa central president Bashir Khan in the chair. The sub-engineers from Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Swat, Buner and Malakand attended the function.

Speaking on the occasion, Bashir Khan said that provincial government seemed least interested to fulfil its promise made with the sub-engineers. He said that sub-engineers working in various government departments would fight for their rights till last.

Mr Khan said that the association had presented its charter of demands regarding approval of service structure for sub-engineers, up-gradation of their posts and award of technical allowance to the government.

He said that sub-engineers had also planned a sit-in in Peshawar and Islamabad for acceptance of their demands. “We are waiting for government’s response and fine weather,” he said. He added that sub-engineers played an important role in development of the country but successive governments ignored them.

Demand service structure, upgradtion of posts and technical allowance

Mr Khan said that organisational work of Sewa was in progress in districts but by then all the sub-engineers should act upon the direction of the provincial organisation. He said that membership forms would be issued only to those sub-engineers, who followed the decisions of Sewa in letter and spirit.

He said the pen down strike would continue in the province till acceptance of their demands. He said that protest demonstrations would also be held at divisional level and then in Peshawar and Islamabad.

The convention was also addressed by Sewa divisional president Akhtar Hussain, district president Syed Abdul Rahim, district president of Contractors Association Ikramullah and others.

The Contractors Association president announced Rs300,000 donation for Sewa.

LAWYERS: The members of Chakdara Tehsil Bar Association on Tuesday demanded of the government to revoke amendments to Code of Criminal Procedure and Drug Act, 2019.

The demand was made during an awareness campaign held at Chakdara bar with its president Razi Khan in the chair. Besides lawyers, political and social activists attended the function that was addressed by Razi Khan, Allahdad Khan, Hazrat Munir, PPP tehsil president Qaisar Khan, PML-N president Gul Munir Khan, PTI activist Imtiaz Khan, JUI-F’s Maulana Shah Hussain, QWP’s Badshah Hussain, Anjuman Tajaran Chakdara president Khwaja Faizul Ghafoor, Adenzai Qaumi Movement chairman Khwaja Faizul Naeem, PkMAP’s Shahab Chakdarwal, Adenzai Qaumi Jirga president Khurshid Ali Khan and others.

The speakers criticised the government and PTI leadership for amending CCP and Drugs Act.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2020