- Lady Health Workers block Mall Road demanding permanent status, outstanding dues
Lady Health Workers (LHWs) from across the province staged a protest rally in front of the Punjab Assembly blocking the Mall Road and disrupting the traffic flow for several hours, Pakistan Today has learnt.
The law enforcement agencies were unable to disperse the protesters clearly showing their administrative failure.
Scores of LHWs gathered in front of the Punjab Assembly protesting against non-payment of salaries for more than a year
Raheela Rao, a LHW from Multan said, “The chief justice ordered to grant permanent status to LHWs last year but the Punjab government has still not done anything in this regard and has deprived us of our salaries.”
They protestors disrupted traffic not only on Mall Road but its service lanes, including Queens’ Road and Cooper Road as well. Many of them sat on the main roads blocking the traffic.
Commuters scuffled with each other while some clashed with the protestors to reach their destinations. Mushtaq Ali, after an exchange of hot words with LHWs said, “I have been waiting for two hours and want to pass as I have family with me. I have my fair share of miseries but it does not mean I disrupt traffic flow and cause inconvenience to the public.”
Everybody from the young to the old including ambulances and university buses were stuck in traffic jam for hours. Another commuter Ayesha Noor said that she was returning home after picking her children up from their school located in old Anarkali when she found out of the road block. “They are not listening to anyone,” she added.
While the commuters and traders at Mall Road suffered the protestors were seen enjoying ice cream and drinks from hawkers gathered nearby.
“Although the courts have placed a ban from staging protests and blocking the Mall, the road still serves as a platform for justice for every other Tom, Dick and Harry,” said an agitated Hafiz Murtaza, a shop owner at Mall Road. He complained that his business suffered a lot during such activities.
The pious SS will soon meet LHWs and remove their doubts against Punjab government. SS is busy now. Wait wait wait.
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