Bashir Hussain Azad
Chitral, May 21, 2026: Government employees in Lower Chitral staged a massive protest on Wednesday, expressing strong opposition to government policies and demanding the fulfillment of long-standing demands. The demonstrators took to the streets, raising slogans and carrying banners and placards highlighting their grievances.
Govt Employees Protest in Chitral, Demand Salary Relief
Speakers at the protest, including district president Zia-ur-Rehman, Qari Muhammad Yousaf, Maulana Qasim, Nisar Ahmed, Waqar Ahmed, Zahid Alam, Imtiazuddin, Salim Abbas, Saud Azad, Amir-ul-Mulk, and Muhammad Ashraf, urged the government to immediately reverse pension reforms and reinstate the 2011 and 2015 ad-hoc allowances into pensions.
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They further demanded salary and pension increases to match the current inflation rate, along with payment of house rent, conveyance, and medical allowances at updated rates. The protesters also called for halting the privatization of schools, colleges, and hospitals, implementation of up-gradation, and issuance of pay revisions.
The speakers warned that if meaningful negotiations with employee representatives were not conducted before the budget, government employees would be compelled to shut down all offices and institutions indefinitely under the principle of “tang amad, jang amad” (when pressured, fight back).
The protest concluded with employees reaching the Press Club to officially record their grievances and reiterate their demand for the government to immediately address their issues.
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