Manan Mandokhail :
Protesting government employees clashed with baton-wielding policemen in Quetta on Tuesday afternoon. At least three women were slightly injured during a clash with police, Muhammad Younas Kakar, a leader of the grand employees association told Quetta Voice. Police also baton-charged and used tear gas to disperse the protesting government employees. This provoked the employees to chant full-throated slogans against the provincial government.
Baton-wielding policemen pushed back protesting employees
The protesting employees were trying to enter the Red Zone of Quetta. Baton-wielding policemen pushed the employees back and three women were slightly injured. The injured were rushed to civil hospital Quetta for medical treatment. However, the hospital administration discharged the women after providing them with first aid.
“Our protest will continue now at Commission Quetta Chowk”, Dad Muhammad Baloch, another leader of the grand employees association said. Mr. Baloch stated that the protesting employees were demanding an allowance equal to other provinces.
Strict security arrangements on the eve of the protest
The administration had taken strict security measures to avert any untoward incident on the eve of the protest of the grand employees association. The employees had also staged a 12-days long sit-in at the main hockey chowk to press the government for acceptance of their demands. However, the then chief minister, Jam Kamal Khan refused to accept their demands.
“We want an end to the disparity in salaries”, Younas Kakar said, referring to the salaries of other provinces. It is our right and our struggle will continue for this, Kakar concluded. The employees blocked the road outside the Commissioner’s office and suspended the traffic.
Common people remained the worst sufferers of the protest of government employees. The city suffered the worst kind of traffic as a result of the agitation by the grand employees association. People used alternative narrow routes to reach their destination because of the protest on main roads.
