Non-payment of salaries: Municipal committee members protest in Lakki Marwat

Sweepers association announces they will not clear up remains of sacrificial animals after Eid.

LAKKI MARWAT: Over 180 employees of the Lakki Marwat Municipal Committee blocked the Indus Highway on Tuesday in protest over non-payment of salaries and pensions for the last three months. 

The protesters, led by Sweepers Association of Municipal Committee (SAMC) members Inayatullah, Imran Khan and Munawar Khan, gathered in front of the committee’s office. They chanted slogans against the district and provincial government before marching towards main Kargil Chowk. There the protesters collected and blocked the road for more than an hour.

Inayatullah addressed the demonstrators and said all members of the municipal committee receive their salaries and pensions on time, however, the janitorial staff had not been paid since the last three months. “Our families are on the verge of starvation as most of the sweepers have no other source of income,” said Inayatullah.

The SAMC and protesters decided all janitorial staff in the district would not clear up the remains of sacrificial animals after Eidul Azha unless their salaries were paid to them, added the irate committee member.

Former tehsil nazim Faridullah Khan Menakhel visited the protesters to negotiate. He assured them their dues would be soon released, however, the employees maintained no janitorial staff would attend their duty unless they are paid.

The protesters dispersed peacefully after the unsuccessful negotiations.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2013.