PROTESTS in Pakistan by government employees are not a novel phenomenon. However, the frequent use of unnecessary force by police personnel to quell these demonstrations is a matter of concern. Ugly scenes were witnessed in the heart of Karachi’s business district on Friday as protesting doctors and health workers, under the banner of the Grand Health Alliance, sought to march on Chief Minister House, located in the metropolis’ sacrosanct ‘red zone’. Police responded with undue force, unleashing water cannons and manhandling many of the demonstrators, including women. The sight of security personnel dragging protesters on the roads, and grabbing elderly demonstrators by the hair, were deplorable. In the past, similar methods have been employed by the Sindh Police against protesting teachers. However, Sindh is not alone in using forceful methods of crowd control, as the Punjab Police have used similar tactics — including thrashing visually impaired demonstrators — in the past.

Protest is a democratic right, and the use of violent methods against demonstrators cannot be condoned. The authorities need to defuse such situations through negotiations before they flare up, and the affected parties take to the streets. Having said that, the protesters must also consider a few things. For starters, healthcare services, specifically outpatient services, at Sindh’s public-sector hospitals have been closed for over a month due to the GHA boycott. The health workers also threatened to shut down emergency services, but thankfully this was averted. The GHA wants restoration of the Covid-19 allowance, though the government argues the threat of the pandemic has lessened considerably. The fact is that such protests disproportionately affect the poor, who cannot afford expensive private healthcare, thus they should only be the method of last resort. Similarly, frequent blockade of public thoroughfares puts stressed common citizens through additional misery. Whether it is health workers, teachers or other government employees, their legitimate grievances should be addressed, but along with demanding greater perks, these state employees also bear a responsibility to deliver in their respective sectors.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2022