Police on Monday used water cannons to foil the protest march of Daily Wagers and Casual Labours of Public Health Engineering (PHE) department and detained scores of its members.The protest according to them was carried out against the government’s ‘imminent decision’ of regularizing the employees who are affiliated with the political parties.The protesters assembled outside the PHE head office at Lal Chowk and chanted slogans like ‘we want justice’.According to KNS correspondent, a large number of protesting PHE daily wagers and causal labours tried to march towards civil secretariat. As soon as the protesters led by their association president, Sajad Ahmad Parray tried to march, police used water cannons to foil their attempt and detained scores of its members.Earlier, talking to reporters here, the association president, Sajad Ahmad Parray said that a large number of daily wagers and casual labourers who have been appointed since 1994 have not been regularized so far.
“Finance Minister, Haseeb A Drabu had promised us that we will be regularized and also a committee headed by chief Secretary was formed in this regard. The committee had to submit their report on May 30,” he said.He alleged that a sub-committee meeting was held on May 30 in which it was decided that those who have been appointed in the year 2007 to 2010 and having political affiliation with PDP and BJP will be regularized. “We are being forced to take streets against the government,” he added.“We have served the department with dedication since past almost 20 years and the government is ignoring our plights. We won’t act as mute spectator in case the government would betray our trust,” Parray added.The protesters appealed the government to look into the matter and fulfill their demands at earliest.However, police later swung into action and detained scores of the protesters.The protesters were later lodged at Kothi Bagh Police Station. (KNS)