Thatta (District Reporter: Ahmed Jakhro) — A massive protest movement has erupted in Thatta, where government employees from various departments staged demonstrations, locked offices, and launched a pen-down strike against the Sindh government’s policies, which they described as “anti-worker and unjust.”

The protest was organized under the banner of the Sindh Employees Alliance, with participation from unions and associations across multiple departments, including Health, Education (GSTA, PTF), Agriculture Extension, Fisheries, Livestock & Animal Husbandry, Irrigation, Drainage, Lower Staff unions, Paramedics, and trade federations.

Locked Offices and Work Boycott

Employees locked down hospitals, health centers, schools, and government offices, suspending all routine work. In Makli, health workers shut down the DHO Health Office, staging a protest led by union leaders Abdul Karim Bhand, Haji Muhammad Ashraf Khaskheli, Abdul Hafeez Khaskheli, Habibullah Solangi, Ali Muhammad Jamari, Ismail Chandio, Dr. Nazir, Zulfiqar Bhand, Akram Khaskheli, Saif Ali Khaskheli, Mola Bakhsh Jakhro, Usman Khaskheli, Dr. Bakht Shah, Abdul Razzaq Jakhro, Raheem Brohi, and Mumtaz Halo.

At the Civil Hospital Makli, as well as in schools and other government offices, employees staged similar demonstrations. Leaders such as Ghulam Nabi Khaskheli, Khameeso Khan Shoro, Sharif Tanio, Ghulam Mustafa Brohi, Khair Muhammad Brohi, Ali Hassan Bharwani, Abdul Rahman Halo, Qurban Junejo, Ghulam Rasool Memon, Ali Muhammad Soomro, Mahmood Bhambhro, Anwar Jakhro, Liaqat Abbasi, Haji Ibrahim Samejo, Mansoor Ali Mirbahar, and Muhammad Musa Mirbahar spearheaded the protests.

Employees’ Demands

Chanting slogans against the government, the protest leaders strongly condemned:

• Cuts in pensions for retired employees
• Non-payment of DRA (Disparity Reduction Allowance)
• New “anti-employee laws” introduced by the provincial government

They argued that the government was treating employees as “stepchildren”, depriving them of their rightful benefits.

One protest leader said, “Pension is a lifeline for retired employees, enabling them to live their final years with dignity. Reducing or abolishing it is a grave injustice.”

Others warned that the continuous introduction of anti-worker legislation was increasing financial hardships for employees. They demanded immediate reversal of pension cuts, release of DRA allowance, and withdrawal of laws that undermine workers’ rights.

Continued Protests Threatened

Union leaders vowed to continue their peaceful demonstrations until their demands were accepted. They also warned that if the government did not act, the movement would intensify, spreading from district to provincial levels.

Employees insisted that the government must respect constitutional rights, restore confidence, and treat workers fairly to end the growing unrest across Sindh.