Islamabad Government Employees Protest Pension Reforms

Federal government employees took to the streets on Wednesday, staging a protest demonstration at the Cabinet Block Chowk in Islamabad, demanding the immediate reversal of pension reforms and the abolition of salary disparities in federal government organisations.

The protesters, who were joined by hundreds of employees from various departments, including teachers, chanted slogans and threatened to stage a sit-in outside the Parliament House if their demands were not met. They claimed that the pension reforms and salary disparities were against their rights and were affecting their livelihoods. The All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA) Punjab also staged a massive protest in front of the Punjab Assembly, where protesters raised slogans against the government's "oppressive" measures and "anti-employee" policies.

The protesters demanded the acceptance of their demands, including the rejection of reductions in pensions and gratuity, leave encashment, the abolition of Rule 17-A, and family pension reforms. They also accused the government of treating employees unfairly, pointing out that while the government increased the salaries of assembly members, ministers, and advisers by nine times, it was reducing the economic rights of employees. Separately, the Teaching Staff Association (TSA) of the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) protested outside the press club against a 25% tax deduction on salaries of teachers and researchers.

Government employees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also protested against the pension reforms and CP Fund policy, leading to a violent confrontation with police. The protest, organized by the All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGIGA), resulted in dozens of employees being injured and several arrested. The AGIGA announced a "Black Day" in all government institutions and postponed a sit-in protest in Peshawar, citing plans to participate in a February 10 protest in Islamabad.

The protests highlight the growing unrest among government employees in Pakistan, who are demanding that the government address their concerns and reverse the pension reforms and salary disparities. The government is yet to respond to the protesters' demands, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming days.