APCA protest: Pen-down strike in Balochistan poll body
Clerks’ body demands security and compensation for heirs of slain officials.
Clerks’ body demands security and compensation for heirs of slain officials. PHOTO: FILE
QUETTA:
Clerical staff of the provincial election commission announced a pen-down strike for an indefinite period in protest against lack of security and the murder of district election commissioner Quetta Ziaullah Qasmi.
The All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA) unit of Election Commission of Balochistan demanded security for the staff, shifting of offices to safe locations and compensation for the heirs of the slain officials.
Provincial president of the APCA unit of Zahoor Ahmed Mengal said at a press conference that prior to the murder of Ziaullah Qasmi, unidentified persons had torched election commission offices in Khuzdar and Awaran.
“Our workers have been threatened by various organisations. Given the precarious security situation in Balochistan, our colleagues are working under constant strain,” he said.
He said the APCA demands security by the government, compensation for the dependents of Qasmi and relocation of the election commission’s sub office from Sariab Road to a safer area.
He also demanded economic security for the heirs of the election commission officials who have been killed while performing their duties.
The APCA also staged a protest demonstration outside the election commission office Quetta.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 14th, 2013.
Clerical staff of the provincial election commission announced a pen-down strike for an indefinite period in protest against lack of security and the murder of district election commissioner Quetta Ziaullah Qasmi.
The All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA) unit of Election Commission of Balochistan demanded security for the staff, shifting of offices to safe locations and compensation for the heirs of the slain officials.
Provincial president of the APCA unit of Zahoor Ahmed Mengal said at a press conference that prior to the murder of Ziaullah Qasmi, unidentified persons had torched election commission offices in Khuzdar and Awaran.
“Our workers have been threatened by various organisations. Given the precarious security situation in Balochistan, our colleagues are working under constant strain,” he said.
He said the APCA demands security by the government, compensation for the dependents of Qasmi and relocation of the election commission’s sub office from Sariab Road to a safer area.
He also demanded economic security for the heirs of the election commission officials who have been killed while performing their duties.
The APCA also staged a protest demonstration outside the election commission office Quetta.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 14th, 2013.