Balochistan Government Employees Launch Province-Wide Protest for Rights, Warn of Assembly Siege During Budget Session
Quetta:Government employees across Balochistan have united under the banner of the **Balochistan Grand Alliance** to protest for their rights. On **Saturday**, protest camps were set up outside press clubs in **Quetta and all district headquarters**, and will continue until **June 2**.
The protests were launched in response to the **government’s failure to implement the alliance’s 12-point charter of demands**. The main protest camp is located outside **Quetta Press Club**, where a large number of employees and union representatives gathered throughout the day. The protest has received support from **various political parties, legal bodies, and civil society representatives**, who visited the camps to express solidarity.
Key alliance leaders including **Professor Abdul Qudoos Kakar (Central Organizer)** and **Haji Ali Asghar Bangalzai (General Secretary)** addressed the protest, warning the government of **stronger action** if demands are not met. Professor Kakar stated that **despite repeated patience and negotiation attempts, the government continues to show indifference**.
The leaders emphasized that the protest is **peaceful**, and warned against any retaliatory or coercive actions against employees. They reiterated that the **12-point charter of demands** includes basic, legitimate rights such as:
* **Salary increases in proportion to inflation**
* **Removal of disparities in pay across departments and grades**
* **Withdrawal of anti-employee pension reforms**
* **Simplification and digitization of pension and retirement processes (as done in Punjab)**
* **A ban on privatization of public institutions**
* **Abolishment of contract and ad-hoc appointments in favor of permanent hiring**
* **100% increase in house rent, medical, and conveyance allowances**
* **Transfer of financial powers from AG Office to district treasury offices**
* **Upgradation and time scale promotions based on performance and seniority**
* **Reduction in income tax deductions on salaries**
* **EOBI registration and social protection for labor-class workers**
* **Removal of all restrictions on employee unions and associations**
* **Provision of utility allowances and house requisition facilities**
* **Resolution of the financial crisis in Balochistan universities**
The leaders announced that **if the government fails to respond during this phase**, they will **lay siege to the Balochistan Assembly during the upcoming budget session**. Action committees in all districts have been instructed to **mobilize employees** and ensure **mass participation in Quetta**, overcoming any obstacles in the way.
Professor Kakar thanked **political party leaders, lawyers, tribal elders, and civil society members** for showing support at protest camps both in Quetta and across the province.
Meanwhile, **former ministers, assembly members, and leaders from both government and opposition parties** also visited protest camps on Saturday, urging the government to **accept the employees’ demands and include them in the upcoming budget**, instead of forcing them toward escalation.
