Back to square one: APCA set to take to the streets again
Pen-down strike called across govt offices province-wide on May 5.
Irshad said the APCA had been compelled to observe yet another strike due to the government’s attitude. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
The All Pakistan Clerks’ Association’s Punjab Chapter will observe yet another pen-down strike across government offices province-wide and stage a sit-in outside the Provincial Assembly on May 5, The Express Tribune has learnt.
According to details, negotiations between the government and the association had not succeeded despite the passage of one month following the APCA’s decision to call-off its sit-in at the Club Chowk after being assured that the government would redress its grievances.
APCA Punjab Chapter chairman Haji Muhammad Irshad said the association had called-off its sit-in after being assured by the government that their charter of demands would be implemented in the two weeks following March 26. He said the APCA representatives had held several meetings with government functionaries including former law minister Rana Sanaullah, the finance secretary, the regulations additional secretary and the administration and services additional secretary on this account but they had stalled progress on the issuance of an official notification regarding the acceptance of the association’s charter of demands.
Irshad said the APCA had been compelled to observe yet another strike due to the government’s attitude. He said the deadlock had momentarily ended in April after the government accepted the association’s demands and an MoU was inked between the parties. Irshad said all aspects of the planned day and night-long sit-in had been discussed in a meeting of association officials on April 28. He said the APCA members across the Punjab had been advised to bring mattresses for the sit-in.
“The government has only accepted the association’s demand to upgrade the post of the superintendent from BS-16 to BS-17. This is of no value as the post has been revised but is bereft of the benefits that come with a posting in the grade,” Irshad said.
He said a letter regarding the planned sit-in had been forwarded to the chief minister and the chief secretary’s office. Irshad said the APCA’s charter of demands was in line with announcements made in the previous year’s budget.
He said clerical staff in all other provinces had been promoted in accordance with the announcements barring those in the Punjab.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 1st, 2015.
The All Pakistan Clerks’ Association’s Punjab Chapter will observe yet another pen-down strike across government offices province-wide and stage a sit-in outside the Provincial Assembly on May 5, The Express Tribune has learnt.
According to details, negotiations between the government and the association had not succeeded despite the passage of one month following the APCA’s decision to call-off its sit-in at the Club Chowk after being assured that the government would redress its grievances.
APCA Punjab Chapter chairman Haji Muhammad Irshad said the association had called-off its sit-in after being assured by the government that their charter of demands would be implemented in the two weeks following March 26. He said the APCA representatives had held several meetings with government functionaries including former law minister Rana Sanaullah, the finance secretary, the regulations additional secretary and the administration and services additional secretary on this account but they had stalled progress on the issuance of an official notification regarding the acceptance of the association’s charter of demands.
Irshad said the APCA had been compelled to observe yet another strike due to the government’s attitude. He said the deadlock had momentarily ended in April after the government accepted the association’s demands and an MoU was inked between the parties. Irshad said all aspects of the planned day and night-long sit-in had been discussed in a meeting of association officials on April 28. He said the APCA members across the Punjab had been advised to bring mattresses for the sit-in.
“The government has only accepted the association’s demand to upgrade the post of the superintendent from BS-16 to BS-17. This is of no value as the post has been revised but is bereft of the benefits that come with a posting in the grade,” Irshad said.
He said a letter regarding the planned sit-in had been forwarded to the chief minister and the chief secretary’s office. Irshad said the APCA’s charter of demands was in line with announcements made in the previous year’s budget.
He said clerical staff in all other provinces had been promoted in accordance with the announcements barring those in the Punjab.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 1st, 2015.