ISLAMABAD: All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA), Lady Health Workers, pensioners and other workers association have staged a protest in front of Parliament House to voice their various demands.
According to details, the protest call was given by government employees asking participants to gather at D-Chowk in Islamabad today (Wednesday). The protest began at 9am and is currently underway.
The protestors tried to move on to Parliament House but were prevented by the federal police. However, they broke the barricades and managed to proceed ahead. The demonstrators vowed to continue their sit-in until their demands are fulfilled.
Protesters are holding placards and banners demanding changes to the service structure, increase in pensions, life insurance, salary increases, and protection in the anti-polio campaign.
A huge number of women, mostly representing female healthcare workers, were also present in the protest. Furthermore, Pakistan International Airline (PIA) workers and Allama Iqbal Open University employees are also present.
On the occasion, female protestors demanded up-gradations in their scales, an increase in salaries, and allowances. “Our salaries should be increased in proportion to inflation and all our daily wage workers should be regularized,” they added.
Lady Health Workers said that they earlier tried to convey their views to the government by holding demonstrations in the respective areas. “However, the government representatives did not listen to us and we were forced to reach Islamabad’s D-Chowk,” they remarked.
This is the second protest by government workers to take place this month. They have mainly demanded a rise in compensation to deal with the soaring prices of commodities.
Some also demanded an end to privatisation of institutions and lay-offs. The protesters also demanded a 150 percent increase in salaries and in medical and convention allowances.
Protestors, belonging to PTCL, claimed that on July 12, 2015, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had ruled in their favor that pension should be given to the retired employees of PTCL. “However, we have not been given pension even after 5 years,” they added.
