PESHAWAR: The government employees on Tuesday held protest rallies across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa seeking increase in salaries and allowances according to the prevailing inflation.

The employees led by the All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa office-bearers gathered outside the Peshawar Press Club and chanted slogans against the government and demanded 100 per cent increase in different allowances. Holding banners and placards inscribed with their demands the protesters said the employees were fully united to continue agitation till resolution of their issues. They demanded merger of the ad hoc relief in the basic pay and also revising the basic scales.

Meanwhile, members of All Pakistan Pensioners Association, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, also held a demonstration and demanded increase in pensions. In Swabi, the AGEGA leaders and workers gathered in the Tehsil Municipal Hall and then marched to the Karnal Sher Khan Chowk chanting slogans for increase in allowances and salaries.

They announced that there would be a pen-down strike across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sept 24 against the ruling party’s anti’-employees’ policies.

The employees of over 30 unions participated in the rally, holding banners and placards inscribed with various slogans.

Also seek merger of ad hoc reliefs in basic pay

The protesters sought timescale for all public sector employees, merger of ad hoc reliefs in regular pay, increasing medical allowance to Rs10,000, giving house rent on running pay and doing away with the contract policy.

In Lower Dir, the government employees on the call of AGEGA leaders observed a pen-down strike and staged a rally against the government policies, and demanded increase in salaries as per the prevailing price hike.

Wearing black armbands and carrying banners and placards, the protesters marched on the road from the Education Complex Balambat and gathered outside the Timergara Press Club.

The protest leaders said the government did not increase salaries of employees this year despite the fact that prices had increased manifold.

In Upper Dir, addressing the protesters, AGEGA district president Behrawar Khan and other leaders blasted the government for its ‘anti-employees’ policies. They said the incumbent government had failed to materialise its slogan of ‘change’. They demanded increase in allowances and salaries.

In Shangla, the government employees staged a protest demanding increase in salaries and withdrawal of taxes. The protest was called by the all government employees’ coordination council, Shangla chapter, in Alpuri. The protesters marched through the Alpuri Bazaar carrying banners and placards.

In Bajaur, scores of government employees organised a demonstration outside the Bajaur Press Club. The protesters holding placards inscribed with slogans against both the federal and the provincial governments, expressed concern for no hike in their salaries in the budget. The speakers demanded of the government to increase employees’ salaries by 50 per cent.

In Khyber, scores of employees held a demonstration at Bab-i-Khyber in Jamrud against abolishment of their pension and annual increment. Holding black flags and placards inscribed with slogans in support of their demands, the protesters also staged a sit-in on the main road.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2020