Budget reactions: Clerks to observe black day today

APCA demands rise in government servants’ salaries.

BAHAWALPUR/ GUJRANWALA: The All Pakistan Clerks Association will observe a  black day on Friday (today) to register their protest against the government’s decision of not raising government servants’ salaries this year.

The announcement was made on Thursday during an APCA rally that blocked the road in front of the Bahawalpur Zoo for more than three hours.

The protest was led by APCA general secretary Fakhrur Rehman Azhar.

Divisional president Rana Waheed Sultan, divisional general secretary Muhammad Abdullah and Action Committee chairman Chaudhry Shaukat Ali were also present.

Addressing the protesters, Azhar said that 2.1 million APCA members and their families had erred in trusting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

He said on Friday (today), 3 million government servants would observe a black day to denounce the federal budget.



Separately, APCA district president Chaudhry Muhammad Boota announced that all government offices in Rahim Yar Khan would be closed down from Friday (today).

APCA Gujranwala Chapter members also protested against the budget and staged a sit-in in front of the executive district officer (education).

The protest was led by APCA Punjab general secretary Tahir Mehmood Bhatti. He said those claiming to provide relief to the poor had taken away the vey first hope of relief from them.

He said government servants were taken for granted and “treated like cattle”.

He said the budget would put out the last stove in the poor man’s kitchen.

He demanded that the prime minister announce an increase in salaries of government servants. Otherwise, the protests would be expanded to as far as Karachi and Gilgit-Baltistan.

He said they (APCA) would not resume work until their demands were met.

Paramedics to protest, too

The All Pakistan Paramedical Staff Association (APPSA) also protested against the government.

Its leaders said that the federal budget had disappointed them.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the APPSA central general secretary, Iqbal Badani said it seemed that the new government had entirely forgotten government servants.

He said the government would be responsible for this. He said the APPSA, too, will protest against the budget.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2013.