K-P CM announces promotion for govt employees arrested after PTI's protest

Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, has announced one-step promotions for government employees recently released after their arrest during protests in Islamabad.

In addition to the promotions, Gandapur granted the employees a week's leave and a stipend of Rs 10,000, Express News reported.

The announcement came as the arrested officials, including 34 police personnel, 7 TMAs, and 42 rescue workers, returned to Peshawar following their release.

Additionally, it was reported that 86 prisoners were released from District Jail Attock late last night. Among those released were two PTI provincial assembly members, 46 Rescue 1122 staff, 25 police officers, and 13 municipal employees.

These detainees had joined Ali Amin Gandapur's convoy during the protest and were released after their bail petitions were approved by the court.

They had been arrested in various locations, including Attock, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad, facing multiple charges, including those under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Following the court's bail approval, the jail administration received the release orders, enabling their return.

Gandapur personally welcomed the employees upon their arrival, presenting them with flower garlands as a gesture of support.

Last month, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced that 564 individuals have been arrested during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protests, including 11 plainclothes personnel from the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) police, as reported by Express News on Saturday.

He explained that plainclothes officers from the K-P police participated in the protests, marking the first instance in Pakistan where police have been utilised in such demonstrations. He added that among those arrested were 11 officers from the K-P police and 120 Afghan nationals.