RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation (RMC) employees on Saturday staged a protest against the shopkeepers of Sadiqabad who allegedly tortured the anti-encroachment staff two days ago and linked removal of encroachment with acceptance of their demands.

More than 150 employees led by Municipal Workers’ Association (MWA) Vice Chairman Nazirzada Khan and President Haji Farooq Khan brought out the rally from RMC offices which marched towards the Rawalpindi Press Club.

The protesters were carrying placards inscribed with their demands besides chanting slogans against the administration and police.

Their main demand was inclusion of anti-terrorism act section against the shopkeepers who allegedly tortured them.

Speaking on the occasion, MWA President Haji Farooq Khan said that the administration and local police had turned a blind eye to the issue.

“If a government employee was not saved in the city then the common man safety would be a big question. The police are not providing any help to the government officials against the land mafia,” he said.

He said all the building inspectors and anti-encroachment cell officials had stopped the work as they were not safe. He said that government had directed them to take action against the encroachers and illegal building owners but the officials’ lives were not safe.

He threatened to stage citywide protest from Tuesday if the local police and the administration failed to meet their demands.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2020