QUETTA, July 16: Several thousands employees of the Civil Secretariat Balochistan, including officers and secretaries, observed a strike in protest against the manhandling of population welfare secretary Anis Ahmed Gola allegedly by armed guards of a former provincial minister on Monday.

They came out of their offices at 10am and gathered on the lawns of the civil secretariat where Officer Staff Association president Ata Mohammad Kakar and Secretariat Staff Association chief Nazar Bloch made speeches.

Condemning the incident, the leaders said that a case should be registered against the former minister and his guards. They announced the employees would observe token strike of two hours daily until the accused were arrested.

Later, provincial home secretary Tariq Ayub informed the protesting employees that the case had been registered against the former minister and his guards. Further action would be taken soon, he added.