Demanding raise in wages: government employees baton charged, tear-gassed by police

The capital police on Wednesday resorted to baton charge and tear gas shelling to disperse the government employees, protesting near D-Chowk for increase in their wages after they tried to proceed towards the Red Zone. A large number of the government teachers and employees staged a protest at Jinnah Avenue and Fazal-e-Haq road on the call of All Pakistan Clerk Association to voice their demand for increase in salaries.
The protesters carrying banners and placards, chanted slogans and urged the government to accept their demands without any further delay. The police started baton charge and tear gas shelling when the government employees started marching towards the Red Zone. This led to a scuffle between police and the workers. Police fired rubber bullets and resorted to baton charge to disperse the protesters as a result several protesters and police personnel got injured. The protesters also pelted stones at police in rage.
The police have arrested around 30 protesting employees during the demonstration. A senior official of police said that the protesters attempted to enter Red Zone due to which they were stopped. The Red zone of Islamabad is a high security zone and no one could be allowed to stage a protest in the limits of red zone. Protesters said that they would continue their protest till the fulfilment of their demand.
Heavy contingent of police and elite force were deployed on the occasion and nearby areas. The police have blocked all roads leading to the Red Zone for traffic for long time. Heavy traffic jams were witnessed at all roads leading to the Red Zone.