Govt willing to resolve employees' issues amicably: Khattak

Defence minister clarifies that any relief given will be in line with country's economic situation

ISLAMABAD:

A three-member government committee headed by Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak said on Wednesday that matters pertaining to the federal employees’ demands will be sorted out amicably and with mutual understanding.

This was stated by the defence minister during a media briefing, held with Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid and Minister of State for Parliamentary affairs Ali Muhammad Khan, following the clashes that erupted between the protesting government employees and Islamabad police earlier in the day.

Khattak stated that the committee was holding talks with the employees and had agreed on a number of steps including increasing their salaries.

He said the government was prepared to extend relief to the employees in the form of a special allowance till the next budget is presented, explaining that the recommendations of the pay and pension commission would be incorporated in the next budget.

The minister stated that the employees had earlier settled for an increase in salaries of employees of grades 1 to 16. However, yesterday, the employees demanded an increase in salaries for all grades, he added.

The minister said the government was ready to hold talks with the government employees again, clarifying that any relief will be given keeping in view the current economic situation of the country.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said resolution of the issues of the people was the state’s responsibility and the government was committed to it.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid also reiterated that the government wanted to move ahead with the employees and that resolution of their issues was its foremost priority.

The protest

The federal capital turned into a war zone Wednesday morning as government employees, protesting for a pay rise, clashed with the police near the Parliament House.

A heavy contingent of police tear-gassed hundreds of government employees as they attempted to approach the Parliament House to stage a sit-in. Dozens of protestors, along with their leaders, were also arrested.

The protestors could also be seen pelting the police officials with stones in return.

A heavy contingent of Islamabad police tear-gassed hundreds of government employees as they attempted to approach the Parliament House to stage a sit-in. PHOTO: EXPRESS

Following the ruckus, a group of protesting employees apparently belonging to the Cabinet Division intercepted the Minister of Information Senator Shibli Faraz's vehicle as it was entering the office of the Ministry of Information, and demanded the immediate release of all the arrested leaders.

Employees of the Federal Directorate of Education were reportedly to have blocked the main Srinagar Highway, resulting in a gridlock on both the tracks of the highway as well as affecting the traffic in the rest of the city.

The strike brought government affairs in ministries, departments, and divisions to a standstill.

Also read: Progress in talks over government employees’ salaries

The government approved a 24% increase in salaries for grades 1 to 16, in principle. However federal employees are demanding a 40% rise in salaries, and demanding an increase in the salaries of provincial employees as well.

The federal government maintains that the provincial government does not have the power to increase the salaries of provincial employees.

Employees belonging to many government ministries including the Secretariat, Cabinet Division and Kohsar Complex have all refused to go to the office, resulting in the closure of government offices.

The federal cabinet, in its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan a day ago, endorsed a decision to increase salaries of the federal employees and directed the provinces to decide for themselves about the salaries of their employees.

Briefing the media about the cabinet decisions, Information Minister Shibli Faraz said that the government would collect tens of billions of rupees by implementing the sugar commission report and through negotiations with the electricity companies.

Maryam condemns police violence

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz, while referring to the incumbent ruler, said that the one who staged a 126-day sit-in in Islamabad couldn’t stand the legitimate protest of government employees.

“Fake rulers should inflict as much harm as they can themselves withstand,” Maryam said, adding that resorting to violence and firing tear gas shells on protesting employees are the incumbent regime's cruel tactics.

“The sacrifices being rendered by the employees actually signal an end to the oppressive, anti-public, vote-thief and commission-fed government,” she remarked.

Maryam noted that thrashing employees who are only putting forth their rightful demand, including that of a pay raise, is a sign of cruel leaders.

“The whole nation has now seen the fascist and dictatorial face of the claimant of Western democracy,” the PML-N leader lamented.

She said the government was suppressing the masses who have been under the debt of inflation for the past three years. “It is the first government that, despite causing inflation to rise fourfold, did not raise salaries of government employees by even a single rupee,” she maintained.

Maryam vowed to raise her voice for the employees and highlight the ill treatment meted out to them at the parliament and all other forums. She demanded the government to immediately release all the arrested employees.