Balochistan employees announce indefinite shutdown after police action in Quetta

QUETTA: The Balochistan Employees’ Grand Alliance on Wednesday announced an indefinite shutdown of government offices, educational institutions and other public sector departments across the province from Thursday after clashes with police in Quetta and the arrest of several leaders and workers.

The alliance said its protest campaign would continue until its demands were accepted. The decision came after its supporters attempted to march to the Balochistan Assembly during the provincial budget session to hold a sit-in protest, but their movement was blocked by the local administration through the deployment of a heavy police and Frontier Corps presence.

Protest over budget-linked salary demands

Tensions rose when government employees tried to move towards the assembly to protest the provincial budget, which announced a seven per cent increase in salaries for employees. The alliance rejected the raise and demanded a 35 per cent disparity reduction allowance as well as a previously promised 25 per cent pay increase.

Several rallies from different parts of Quetta gathered near Chaman Phatak before attempting to head towards the assembly. Police stopped the protesters there, and authorities then used tear gas to disperse the crowd, causing panic and disorder in the area.

Alliance vows to intensify movement

More than 10 leaders and workers were taken into custody by police. Protesters alleged that peaceful demonstrators had been met with excessive force.

Alliance leaders Abdul Qudoos Kakar and Younas Kakar said the movement would be stepped up after what they described as a violent crackdown on peaceful protesters. The alliance also announced that a hunger strike unto death would begin in Quetta on June 19, and warned that the protest campaign would widen if its demands were not met.

The developments came as the Balochistan government presented its budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, which included a seven per cent salary increase for government employees.