Govt employees protest over pay freeze, paralysing traffic

Police and district administration on Wednesday sealed major roads around the Red Zone and Karachi Press Club by placing containers, ahead of a planned protest by government employees demanding salary increases in line with inflation.

Heavy contingents of police, including women personnel, were deployed around the Sindh Assembly and KPC, while additional units equipped with batons and tear gas were also stationed in the area. Prison vans and water cannons were also positioned as part of security arrangements.

The road closures caused significant disruption for office workers and residents of adjoining areas, who faced difficulties in commuting due to traffic congestion and diversions.

Meanwhile, a large number of government employees, including members of the All Pakistan Clerks Association, Primary School Teachers Association and other groups, gathered outside the KPC and staged a sit-in that continued for several hours.

The protest was led by representatives of various employee associations, including Sikandar Jatoi, Zulfiqar Shah and others, who demanded salary increases in line with rising inflation.

During the protest, a delegation of association leaders met government officials at the commissioner's office for negotiations. Following the meeting, the leaders returned to the protest site and later attempted to march towards the Sindh Assembly. However, police stopped them due to road blockades, prompting another sit-in on the roadway.

Senior police officials, including SSP South Mahzoor Ali and SSP Keamari Sanghar Malik, reached the site along with heavy contingents and held talks with the protesters.