After first employing tear gas and water cannons to disperse the gathering, the Karachi Police temporarily arrested government workers on Monday who were protesting for pay increases and promotions.
The altercations also resulted in traffic jams in a number of locations.
“Eighty-seven [protesters were] arrested and released on commitment to call off the protest,” South Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Syed Asad Raza told Dawn.com, adding that their next move would be revealed following the 13th Muharam.
He claimed that after talks between the officials’ and employees’ representatives broke down, the police first intervened. “A coalition of Sindh government workers from several departments, the Sindh Employees’ Alliance (SEA), was advancing on the Chief Minister’s residence.
“The SEA has made three main demands: giving all employees of the same grades a 50 percent DRA (disparity reduction allowance), raising the salaries and pensions of Sindh employees from grade 1 to grade 22 by 70 percent, and providing group insurance and a benevolent fund to all employees of the said grades upon retirement in accordance with the Balochistani government’s model.”
According to DIG Raza, the alliance’s leaders met with him, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, the Planning and Development Minister, the Karachi commissioner, and the finance secretary at the commissioner’s office.
“There was no agreement, so the talks failed,” he added, adding that the demonstrators had assembled outside the Karachi Press Club early in the morning with the intention of marching on the CM House.
He claimed that law enforcement had already blocked up the routes close to the CM House and that demonstrators were being dispersed by police using water cannons as they marched toward the Aiwan-i-Saddar Road, which is close to the Governor House.
