Government employees protesting in the provincial capital Quetta were baton-charged by the police on Tuesday. At least three women and several men were injured in the clash between the unarmed protestors and the bludgeon-wielding police.
The police also used tear gas to disperse the protestors. The aggressive behaviour of the police prompted the employees to chant full-throated slogans against the provincial government.
According to the details, scores of government employees took to the streets in Quetta on Tuesday to protest against disparity in the salaries of the employees in Balochistan and other provinces and various other issues confronting them.
The protestors also demanded pay raises and a 25% allowance (equal to what employees in other provinces receive), arguing that due to the inflation and price hikes, it is becoming increasingly hard to subsist on the meagre salaries. At least 33 organizations are taking part in the protests.
During a protest a few days ago, the employees warned that they would enter the Red Zone if the government does not take their demands seriously. As promised, the protestors were reportedly trying to enter the Red Zone when the Quetta police descended on them with batons and tear gas.
Police pushed and manhandled the protestors out of the red zone. Three women and several men were injured in the clash. The journalists covering the protest also received blows from the police. The injured were moved to the civil hospital and discharged after they were provided with first aid.
The government had made security measures on the eve of the protest to avert any incident. During the tenure of the previous government, the employees staged a 12-day sit-in protest at the main Hockey Chowk in Quetta. The then Chief Minister, Jam Kamal Khan, refused to accept their demands.
The protests also affected the common folk of Quetta. Due to the large gathering on the roads, the traffic was suspended for hours. People had to use alternate routes to reach their destinations. The strict security measures also made it difficult for the civilians to move around in the city.