NOWSHERA: The government employees on Tuesday protested against abolition of pension.

They organised a march from the government high school No 1 to Shubra Chowk, Nowshera, and later converged at the press club.

The rally was led by all employees union district president Idrees Khan Hashmi, All Pakistan Clerks’ Association central general secretary Ghulam Sarwar Khan, provincial president of all Class-IV employees union Afsar Khan Kheshgi and others.

Addressing the protesters, Idrees Hashmi said the employees would continue to put pressure on the government to take back the decisions regarding abolition of pension and non-implementation of annual increments.

He said employees also rejected the decision to extend retirement age from 60 to 63 years.

Mr Hashmi demanded of the government to increase salaries of employees as per the prevailing inflation. He said the employees would start a sit-in in Islamabad on Feb 10 for acceptance of their demands.

In Lower Dir, the government employees observed a pen-down strike against abolition of pensions and ad hocism in departments.

The strike was observed on the call of All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA) and APCA.

The AGEGA representatives announced to observe pen-down strike every Tuesday till acceptance of demands.

They demanded increase in salaries as the prevailing inflation had made it difficult for the government employees to make both ends meet. They also announced to hold a protest demonstration in Islamabad on Feb 10.

In Mohmand, the employees held a demonstration against the government failure to increase their salaries.

The protesters gathered outside the Mohmand Press Club in Ghalanai and chanted slogans in support of their demands.

Addressing the protesters, president all teachers association Marjan Ali, APCA president Israr Ali and others said the government employees were being pushed against the wall.

They reiterated to participate in a protest sit-in outside the Parliament House in Islamabad on Feb 10 to push for acceptance of their demands.

They demanded that that all the employees should be given house rent, medical and ad hoc allowances.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2021