Karachi: The Karachi police on Monday briefly detained dozens of government employees staging a protest for salary increases and promotions, after using tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds marching toward the Chief Minister’s House. The demonstrations also caused severe traffic disruptions across several main roads.
South DIG Syed Asad Raza said police arrested 87 protesters, who were later released after pledging to call off their protest. “Their future course of action will be announced after 13th Muharram,” he added. The crackdown followed failed negotiations between representatives of the Sindh Employees’ Alliance (SEA) and government officials.
The SEA — an umbrella group of various Sindh government departments — has demanded a 70% raise in salaries and pensions for employees from grade 1 to 22, a 50% Disparity Reduction Allowance (DRA) for the same grades, and group insurance plus a benevolent fund on retirement, similar to the benefits offered by the Balochistan government.
Talks involving DIG Raza, Planning and Development Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, the Karachi commissioner, and the finance secretary failed to produce an agreement. As protesters gathered outside the Karachi Press Club in the morning and advanced toward the CM House, police had already sealed roads in the area and responded with water cannons and tear gas to push them back.
SEA leaders Ashraf Khaskheli and Zamir Chandio accused police of using “torture” to disperse them. They announced plans to continue their campaign, possibly marching toward Bilawal House in Clifton. The leaders claimed that while Minister Nasir Shah accepted their demands, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had sought three days for further consultations.
Speaking to media earlier, Minister Nasir assured the government would address the employees’ legitimate concerns, stressing that while peaceful protest is a right, such gatherings should not inconvenience the public.
Meanwhile, traffic across Karachi was severely affected. South SSP (Traffic) Suhai Aziz reported closures of four major arteries — Aiwan-i-Saddar, Dr Ziauddin Ahmad, Din Muhammad Wafai, and Sarwar Shaheed roads — causing spillover jams on I.I. Chundrigar Road, Abdullah Haroon Road, M.T. Khan Road, and Saddar. Traffic advisories diverted vehicles through alternate routes including Club Road, Mai Kolachi, and Zainab Market to manage the gridlock.
Police said the road closures were enforced for “security reasons” during the protest.
