National Conference on Saturday lashed out at the State Government and the Chief Minister for a harbouring a vindictive, retributive and punitive agenda against Government Employees. National Conference Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani said the State Government was being vindictive when the fragile situation called for a reconciliatory and positive approach to restore normalcy in the State.In a statement issued to KNS, NC Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani said Government Spokesperson and Education Minister Naeem Akhtar should introspect and recollect his days as a Government Employee who played a very active role in the ‘Rabita Committee’ agitation.“Naeem Akhtar should appreciate the futility of repressive measures better than anyone else. He was one of the employees who was reinstated from suspension after there was a complete strike by PDD and PHE employees in the State in early 90s. If espousing a political sentiment is an unforgivable and unpardonable sin for a Government Employee then Naeem Akhtar would have been terminated from service in his days of leading an agitation against the Government”, the NC Provincial President added.
Asking the State Government to immediately reinstate the suspended Government Employees, Nasir Aslam Wani said targeting Government Employees for the current unrest was a regressive and counterproductive approach. “Why single out government employees and punish them for an agitation which encompassed virtually all sections of the society? It is impractical for the Government to think a certain section of the society can be tormented into compliance. This Government has gone from blackmailing employees, to coercing them, to threatening them of stopping their salaries to now finally placing them under suspension and termination”, the NC Provincial President said.The NC Provincial President said the party stands in solidarity with the government employees and will continue to seek their restoration and dignified reinstatement. “Our government employees have rendered innumerable sacrifices and served the people in extremely trying circumstances.
This current unrest and its ramifications are primarily because of the incumbent Government’s wrong policies and PDP’s opportunistic alliance with the BJP, not because of government employees. Rather than introspecting and changing their ways, the Government is hell-bent on torturing government employees. We stand with the employees and will do whatever is necessary to ensure they get justice and aren’t tormented”, Nasir Aslam Wani further added.The NC Provincial President expressed disappointment at the State Government’s continued investment in repression and mass harassment. “The policy of indiscriminate arrests, nocturnal raids and bulk PSAs will not help in improving the situation. It will only worsen the situation and add to the anger and anguish on the ground. The State Government should release Hurriyat leaders and facilitate a dialogue between New Delhi and Hurriyat without any further delay - as was promised in the 'Agenda of the Alliance' between the PDP and the BJP. There is no alternative to talks and both New Delhi and Islamabad should take concrete measures to start a meaningful political process to find a lasting solution to the political issue”, the NC Provincial President said. (KNS)