Pak police fire tear gas on govt employees demanding salary hike

Tear gas shells were fired and force was used by the Pakistan police on Wednesday as the government employees of the country gathered in protest to demand an increase in their salaries and pensions.

According to media reports, at least 2,000 people had gathered and planned to march towards Parliament House when the police fired tear gas to stop them.

Meanwhile, the federal ministers, including Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed, have said their demands will be met. The protesters have however reiterated that the government will have to issue a notification confirming the increase in their salaries.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz have backed the government employees protest.

Taking to Twitter, Maryam demanded the government to stop the “merciless torture” of the government employees.

“For God’s sake, stop this merciless torture…Do not make the innocent government employees suffer from tear gas, shelling and baton-charging. They are not enemies but poor Pakistanis who are asking for their rights,” she said.