Protesters block Quetta Karachi highway against load shedding
Protesting employees blocked main Sindh-Balochistan highway at Naseerabad Dera Murad Jamali: Photo taken from social media

Government employees block national highways in Balochistan

News Desk :

Protesting government employees have blocked national highways in Balochistan on Monday for acceptance of their demands. For the last eight days, the Grand Employees Alliance (GEA) has been protesting against the provincial government for acceptance of demands.

“Our struggle is for a 25 percent increase in the salaries of employees”, Abdul Malik Kakar, the protesting employees’ leader said. Chief Minister Balochistan, Jam Kamal Khan has turned down the demand of the employees and announced to provide jobs to jobless rather than increasing salaries. “The government cannot pay an extra Rs. 15bs to employees“, the CM stated.

GEA had given a call of the wheel-jam strikeĀ 

GEA had given a call of the wheel-jam strike in Balochistan to mount pressure on the government for acceptance of their demands. The employees also blocked in the Western Bypass area of Quetta and Yaro area of Pishin district. The protesters and levies personnel also clashed at Yaro. There are also reports of several protesting employees by police administration.

An employee being shifted to hospital in the aftermath of a clash between protesters and levies personnel: Photo provided by Asmat Hanafi

Common people remained the worst sufferers of the employees’ agitation in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan. “This is insane, why employees are punishing common people”, Muhammad Zaman, a truck driver waiting since morning for the opening of the highway said.

The government employees have also blocked all roads leading toward the Red Zone in Quetta. The Zone houses Governor’s House and CM Secretariat. “We are at the mercy of government and employees”, Haseeb Khan, a taxi driver lamented.

Balochistan-Sindh and Quetta-Karachi highways blocked

The protesting employees blocked the main highway at Naseerabad linking Balochistan with Sindh province. Protesters also blocked the Quetta-Karachi highway at Kalat. Long queues of vehicles can be witnessed at all national highways in Balochistan as a result of the agitation.

Some political parties, traders, and transporters have also backed the wheel-jam strike of GEA. The GEA comprises of Balochistan Civil Secretariat Association, teachers, lecturers, and other government employees. The protesters are gradually intensifying their protest with every passing day in Balochistan.

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Quetta Voice is an English Daily covering all unfolding political, economic and social issues relating to Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province in terms of area. QV's main focus is on stories related to education, promotion of quality education and publishing reports about out of school children in the province. QV has also a vigilant eye on health, climate change and other key sectors.