Unpaid salary sparks LG employees protest
Mayor Peshawar and local government employees are at an impasse over unpaid salaries, leading metropolitan employees to declare a strike and initiate a sit-in outside the Mayor’s office starting today (Monday).
Their ultimatum states that if salaries are not disbursed by Monday, they will escalate their protest by preventing any officer from entering the office.
Tensions between the two parties heightened when the director metropolitan was transferred due to disagreements with the Mayor. This transfer further exacerbated the delay in salary payments, prompting local government (LG) employees to stage a protest and sit-in outside the Mayor’s office. The United Municipal Workers Union Capital Metropolitan Government has released a protest schedule in response to the brewing conflict.
Read MTIs in Swabi protest salary delays
A meeting chaired by Chairman Malik Muhammad Naveed Awan, with various office bearers in attendance, discussed the ongoing dispute.
Awan emphasized that no officer, including Mayor Peshawar Haji Zubair Ali, would be permitted to enter the office during the protest. Concerns were raised about the potential tampering with LG records, leading Awan to appeal to the Peshawar High Court and the Secretary LG to secure all LG records to prevent any potential destruction.
Awan expressed frustration, stating that if there is a power struggle or issues between Mayor Peshawar and the director-general, it should not negatively impact the livelihoods of the employees. He urged swift intervention from the court and LG authorities to safeguard the interests of the employees and prevent any further disruption.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 4th, 2023.