QUETTA: Hundreds of teachers, along with members of staff of the Balochistan University, staged a sit-in, in front of the Balochistan Assembly, on Monday.

After the sit-in, they marched on the main roads of the provincial capital against the non-payment of their salaries for the last four months, which they said had caused great financial difficulties.

They assembled within the univer­sity and took out a rally, which passed through the main Sariab Road, Jinnah Road and Zarghoon Road and finally reached the provincial assembly which was in session at the time.

The demonstrators carried placards and banners inscribed with their demands and chanted slogans in favour of their demands.They were led by Dr Kaleemullah and other leaders of the joint action committee.

They set up a camp, outside the assembly gate to block the entry of individuals into the premises. How­ever, people used alternative gates for entering the assembly.

Members of the assembly brought the protest to the notice of speaker retired captain Abdul Khaliq Achakzai’s.

The speaker formed a five member committee, comprising Mir Saddiq Umrani, Mir Ali Madad Jattak, Rehmat Saleh Baloch, Agha Umar Ahmedzai and Wali Muhammad Nourzai to listen to the protestors demands.

The committee held negotiations with the joint action committee leaders, who informed them of their grievances and told them that university employees, including teaching staff, have not received salaries, which caused financial hardship.

The committee assured the joint action committee that issues relating to their salaries and pensions would be resolved, as soon as possible.

They said that Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has already approved a grant for universities to resolve financial crises.

Funds would be disbursed in coming days, the assembly members assured the teachers.

Following the assurances by the house committee, the joint action committee announced to end the protest.

However, they announc­­ed to resume the sit-in outside the main gate of the university, until the issue of delayed salaries was resolved once and for all.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2024