MARDAN: The former employees of tehsil municipal administration staged a protest rally against delay in payment of their pensions.

They were carrying banners and placards in their hands inscribed with slogans against the provincial government and TMA. They also chanted slogans against the TMA officials.

The protesters said that they were forced to hold the protest as they were not being provided their pension amount despite the fact that the price hike was on its peak.

They said that they spent a major part of their lives in providing municipal services to people but now they were facing a lot of difficulties in getting their pension. They asked the authorities concerned to solve their problem forthwith, otherwise they would be forced to stage a sit-in for indefinite period in front of chief minister’s office.

PPP: Pakistan Peoples Party central leader Nawabzada Khawaja Mohammad Khan Hoti has sought stern accountability of corrupt politicians and government officials in judiciary and other institutions before holding general elections.

Talking to journalists here on Tuesday, he urged all politicians to present themselves for accountability before going to contest polls. “We have been witnessing elections in the country for last 70 years,” he added.

Mr Hoti said that few influential families had been ruling the country since its independence. He claimed that 95 per cent people of Pakistan were poor.

“Poor people have not been provided with their basic needs. People in the country have been forced to commit suicide due to starvation,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2023