Manan Mandokhail :
QUETTA: Police fired tear gas and baton-charged protesting government employees ahead of Balochistan budget for the financial year 2022-23. “Two employees were injured during the protest”, Muhammad Younas Kakar, the Spokesman of the grand employees’ alliance told Quetta Voice.
Various government employee organizations had announced to stage a protest demonstrations outside the Chief Minister’s Secretariat prior to the financial budget.
“Government used force against peaceful employees”, Abdul Rasheed, one of the protesting government teachers said. He said police baton-charged the employees without any justification.
Activists of a grand employee alliance were trying to enter the Red Zone to press the government for acceptance of their demands when police pushed them back. The Red Zone and Quetta’s high-security zone gave a deserting look after the employees and police clash.
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Despite financial constraints, better package prepared for employees: Khetran
“The government is serious about solution of employees’ problems”, Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran, Finance Minister of Balochistan said. He said despite financial constraints, the government has prepared a better package for government employees and pensioners.
Hundreds of baton-wielding policemen were deployed at the main chowk leading towards the CM Secretariat and Governor’s House. The protesters were chanting slogans against the government for its failure to address the problems.
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“We want an immediate relief in our salaries like other parts of the country”
“We want an immediate relief in our salaries like other parts of the country”, Professor Raziq Ulftat Kakar, one of the protesters said. He said the government has made many promises but failed to address employee issues.
People suffered difficulties because of the ongoing protest and they alternated routes to reach their destinations. Balochistan government is all set to announce the financial budget for the year 2022-23.
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Prior to the budget, teachers, clerks and other employee associations have staged protest demonstrations to mount pressure on the government to acceptance of their demands. Community teachers have also established a protest camp outside Quetta Press Club for acceptance of their demands.
