RAWA LPINDI: Clerks on Wednesday staged a rally to press the government to give them a 100 per cent raise in their basic salaries in the next fiscal budget (2015-16).

More than 150 clerks,led by All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA) Central leader Ali Zafar Bilo, Rawalpindi chapter President Adalat Hussain and Raja Arshad Bangial, gathered at Committee Chowk and marched till Marrir Chowk.

A worst traffic jam was witnessed as the main road remained closed to traffic for more than two hours. The rally`s participants carried placards inscribed with slogans against the government.

Talking to Dawn, some protesters said they were raising their voice against discrimination being meted out against them.

`The provincial government is constructing housing schemes for officers but it has forced the clerks to live in dilapidated houses. One can see stark difference between houses in Officers Colony adjacent to Jinnah Park and the quarters of clerks and low grade of ficials,` said Sajid Mehmood, a government official.

Shaukat Mehmood, an education department official, said the government had given ad hoc relief to the employees but failed to increase the basic salary.

`The annual increase of Rs500 to Rs1,000 is not included in the basic pay. The government wanted to give relief to businessmen as it is the government of businessmen. Our role is limited to just giving votes in the general elections,` he said.

Speaking on the occasion, the speakers demanded 100 per cent increase in the basic salaries instead of ad hoc relief.

`The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan governments have raised pays of clerks but the Punjab and centre have turned a blind eye on the issue,` said Raja Arshad Bangial.

He said the clerks demanded inclusion of ad hoc relief of the past in the basic salaries as the clerks were facing problems to manage their household budgets. -A Reporter