QUETTA, Jan 14: Hundreds of activists and supporters of the All Pakistan Federation of Trade Unions on Tuesday staged a protest rally to support the demands of government workers.

The protesters also wanted to take out a procession from Mezan Chowk, but the heavy police contingent deployed in the area did not allow them to assemble there.

However, later they managed to gather in front of Quetta Press Club, carrying placards and banners inscribed with their demands, and chanting slogans against the government for not accepting the demands.

Speaking on the occasion, federation Secretary-General Ramzan Achakzai flayed the district Nazim for not allowing the workers to take out the procession.

He regretted that the government was increasing salaries and other facilities for the elected members of parliament, assemblies, president and prime minister, but they had no resources for the poor employees of government departments.

Mr Achakzai demanded that sale of various important national institutions, which he said was being carried out on the direction of the IMF and World Bank, should be stopped.

He said that downsizing and rightsizing was a conspiracy against the government employees to deprive them of their jobs, and demanded to stop this process.