May 24, 2013

Balochistan teachers continue sit-in

Thursday, May 23, 2013: Quetta—The protesting teachers seeking regularisation of their services continued their sit-in on Zarghoon road near Governor and Chief Minister Houses on third consecutive day here on May 22. The previous Pakistan People’s Party led coalition government had recruited 5000 teachers under Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package on contract basis. The dozens of the teachers had been continuing their protest and sit-in on Railway Hockey Roundabout on third consecutive day. They had held banners inscribed with the demand for regularisation of their services. Published by Daily Pakistan Observer on May 23, 2013 … [Read more...]

Giving deadlines: NADRA employees threaten to hold strike in Islamabad

PESHAWAR, May 22nd: National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) employees on May 21 threatened to hold a demonstration in front of the main NADRA office in Islamabad if their demands were not met by June 10. Addressing a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, All Pakistan NADRA Employees Union (APNEU) President Muhammad Saleem alleged employees’ basic rights, including Appointment Promotion Transfer (APT) rules and basic pay scales (BPS), were not granted. Saleem claimed appointments were instead made based on political influence. “We want our union offices on regional levels across the country, and the reinstatement of employees removed from their positions in February this year,” he said while referring to the 60 odd NADRA employees sacked across Pakistan for … [Read more...]

Raise in pension demanded

ABBOTTABAD, May 21: President of the All Pakistan Pensioners Associations, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Fida Mohammad Durrani, has said they will stage a sit-in outside the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly to press for acceptance of their demands. Addressing a press conference at the press club here on May 20, Mr Durrani demanded granting of documents attestation powers to the retried officers, 33 per cent quota for their families in jobs, increase in family pension up to 100 per cent and special quota for the disabled children of the retired employees. He was accompanied by Syed Noor Ahmed Shah, Hazara division president of the association, Manan Qureshi, divisional general secretary, and others. Mr Durrani also demanded release of the benevolent fund and group insurance to the employees … [Read more...]

Sanitary staff go on strike in Mirpurkhas

MIRPURKHAS, April 17: People of different localities here have been facing a threat to their health for a few weeks in the aftermath of a strike by sweepers and other employees of Taluka Municipal Administration (TMA) of Mirpurkhas in protest against non-payment of their salary. Reports said the TMA staff went on strike a week ago after the TMA had failed to pay their two-month salaries. Due to the strike, sewerage pumping stations were lying closed and gutters were overflowing in many localities, including Hirabad, Mir Ka Plot, Thamsabad, Ishaque colony, colony road, Thamsabad road, Naipara, Hameed Pura colony and other areas. The situation is worsening day by day creating many problems for citizens. Affected people, including Wafaque Ahmed Khan, Irfan Qureshi, Raees Ahmed, … [Read more...]

400 miners working in deplorable conditions

KARACHI, April 15: National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) Pakistan said that workers of Duddar mines in Balochistan have been on a strike for the past six days. In a statement, NTUF said: “A Chinese firm, MMC Duddar Mineral Development Company Limited, has been mining for copper and other precious metals and minerals in Duddar UC in District Lasbella.” The union said in Duddar mines about 400 workers employed by the company are from the local Jamote tribe. The working conditions are deplorable in and around the mines. There are no safety measures of any kind at the work place, increasing the number of death and injuries. It said: “The working hours range from 12 to 14 hours with a daily wage of Rs200 only without any other facilities. To cope with the situation, the workers of … [Read more...]