Government employees rally for pay, perks

Reject 'IMF pretext' for wage restraint, threaten boycott

RAWALPINDI:

Teachers' organisations, including AGIGA and APCA, along with employees from all government departments, staged a large protest demonstration on Murree Road in Rawalpindi on Tuesday to press for the approval of their Charter of Demands, including a raise in perks and privileges and non-payment of dues. Hundreds of government employees participated in the rally, carrying banners and placards inscribed with protest slogans.

The demonstration was led by the central president of the Punjab Teachers Union, Qazi Imran, alongside Akhiyan Gul, Basharat Iqbal Raja and Malik Amjad.

Addressing the gathering, the leaders and teachers demanded an immediate increase in salaries in line with inflation, a halt to the privatisation of public schools and institutions, an end to employee dismissals, and the prompt payment of the disparity allowance.

They further called for the withdrawal of what they described as unjust amendments to pension laws, restoration of tax rebates, timely promotions, regularisation of all contract and temporary employees, and immediate recruitment against vacant posts rather than their abolition.

The protest leaders warned that if their demands were not met, they would boycott annual examinations, including the Class VIII board examinations, impose an indefinite lockout of public schools and government offices, and stage sit-ins along with their children.

They stated that employees had been economically devastated, surviving on credit as their salaries were exhausted within days. They urged the government to cease citing International Monetary Fund (IMF) pressure as a pretext for denying pay rises, arguing that the IMF did not object to the purchase of new aircraft worth billions of rupees, increases in salaries and allowances for parliamentarians, senators, bureaucrats and secretaries, or the procurement of luxury vehicles for senior officials.

The protesters demanded the immediate acceptance of their Charter of Demands and warned of intensified agitation if their concerns were ignored.

The rally, which marched from the Education Office on Murree Road to the Press Club, caused severe traffic disruption across Murree Road, Liaquat Road, Committee Chowk and Mareer Chowk, with long queues of vehicles reported. Employees from all government institutions, including clerical and Class IV staff, participated in the two-hour march, chanting slogans throughout.

Meanwhile, at Rawalpindi Railway Station, locomotive shed employees staged a separate protest over non-payment of salaries and burned an effigy of the Federal Minister for Railways.

The Railway Action Committee stated that although it was already 24 February, employees had yet to receive their wages