ATTOCK, Dec 4: Reinstated employees of the Public Works Department (PWD) on Thursday staged a protest rally against what they said the department’s reluctance to pay 10-month salary despite a court order.

The PWD staff started the rally from their office in Attock city and marched to the Kutchery Chowk, where their representatives addressed the crowd.

The rally participants were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans against the “anti-labour” attitude of the government and writings in favour of their demands.

On the occasion, labour leader Rana Faisal said “non-compliance of the court order is contempt and a violation of the rules of law.”

He said in pursuance of the court order, District Nazim Tahir Sadiq through an executive order issued on September 24 directed all EDOs, district account officers, appointing authorities, drawing and disbursing officers to take back all the sacked employees and pay their salary before Eidul Fitr. The nazim passed on the instructions after the Lahore High Court (LHC) suspended the termination order of the contract employees.

The officials were also warned that in case of non-compliance of this order, proceedings shall be initiated accordingly. But the salaries had not been paid as yet, causing great suffering to the employees and their families.

The protesters regretted that the act of termination and stoppage of salaries was illegal, as their appointments were regularised after the approval by the then Punjab chief minister, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

But, unfortunately, with the change of government after February 18 elections their appointments were declared “irregular” on September 12 on the plea that these were not approved by the provincial finance department.

The protesters asked the district administration to pay their 10 months suspended salaries before Eidul Azha as they and their families were suffering financially. They warned that they would approach the court of law, if the outstanding amount was not cleared.

Lawyers boycott courts: Lawyers of the district bar association (DBA) on Thursday observed complete strike against the delay in restoration of the deposed chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and vowed to continue their struggle till the deposed CJ’s restoration.