Raise rebuke: Police arrest over 100 clerks at D-Chowk
Batons, rubber bullets used to disperse protest; they were demanding 50% increments.
the protesters marching towards the red zone. PHOTO: INP
ISLAMABAD:
The city police on Wednesday arrested over 100 clerks from D-Chowk after they allegedly tried to enter parliament. The clerks were protesting against the budget, most specifically against the pay increments they have been granted, which they find low, relative to inflation.
Hundreds of clerks under the banner of All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA) had assembled in front of National Press Club (NPC) early in the morning and marched towards parliament.
With banners and placards inscribed with slogans denouncing the “anti-poor budget” and rejected the ten per cent increase in their salaries, the protesters instead demanded that the government implement their charter of demands.
Those demands include amendments to the pay-scale, with a pay increase of at least 50 per cent including house rent and medical services.
The protesters first marched towards China Chowk and then marched towards D-Chowk, where they staged a sit-in protest.
Later, when they tried to breach security around the red zone, the police attempted to stop the protesters from advancing, and upon ‘resistance’, rubber bullets, batons and teargas were brought out to disperse the crowd.
At least two clerks were injured by the police.
“What kind of democracy is this where innocent people are being baton-charge for their rightful protest,” said an angry protester. They said they will continue their struggle and force the government to implement their demands as peaceful protest was their right.
APCA Rawalpindi President Muhammad Hanif said the clerks were demanding an increase of at least 50 per cent in this budget and felt let down when the government only gave them a 10 per cent increase. “We are disappointed that ruling PML-N has ignored the poor and only the richest people have been facilitated in the budget,” he added.
The clerks claimed that it is difficult for them to meet their expenses in existing salaries and demanded that the government implement their demands.
Assistant Commissioner Noman Yousaf confirmed that hundreds of protesters were arrested by the police and were detained in Kohsar and Aabpara police stations. However, the police have yet to register a First Information Report (FIR) against them.
A senior police official said that in the last week, over a dozen police officers were suspended after Sikh protesters breached the security cordon and entered parliament therefore, during this protest police were “extra vigilant” and did not allow the protesters to get near the red-zone.
The official said that the police will release the detained protesters tonight.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2014.
The city police on Wednesday arrested over 100 clerks from D-Chowk after they allegedly tried to enter parliament. The clerks were protesting against the budget, most specifically against the pay increments they have been granted, which they find low, relative to inflation.
Hundreds of clerks under the banner of All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA) had assembled in front of National Press Club (NPC) early in the morning and marched towards parliament.
With banners and placards inscribed with slogans denouncing the “anti-poor budget” and rejected the ten per cent increase in their salaries, the protesters instead demanded that the government implement their charter of demands.
Those demands include amendments to the pay-scale, with a pay increase of at least 50 per cent including house rent and medical services.
The protesters first marched towards China Chowk and then marched towards D-Chowk, where they staged a sit-in protest.
Later, when they tried to breach security around the red zone, the police attempted to stop the protesters from advancing, and upon ‘resistance’, rubber bullets, batons and teargas were brought out to disperse the crowd.
At least two clerks were injured by the police.
“What kind of democracy is this where innocent people are being baton-charge for their rightful protest,” said an angry protester. They said they will continue their struggle and force the government to implement their demands as peaceful protest was their right.
APCA Rawalpindi President Muhammad Hanif said the clerks were demanding an increase of at least 50 per cent in this budget and felt let down when the government only gave them a 10 per cent increase. “We are disappointed that ruling PML-N has ignored the poor and only the richest people have been facilitated in the budget,” he added.
The clerks claimed that it is difficult for them to meet their expenses in existing salaries and demanded that the government implement their demands.
Assistant Commissioner Noman Yousaf confirmed that hundreds of protesters were arrested by the police and were detained in Kohsar and Aabpara police stations. However, the police have yet to register a First Information Report (FIR) against them.
A senior police official said that in the last week, over a dozen police officers were suspended after Sikh protesters breached the security cordon and entered parliament therefore, during this protest police were “extra vigilant” and did not allow the protesters to get near the red-zone.
The official said that the police will release the detained protesters tonight.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2014.