Approximately 1,500 federal levies employees from across Balochistan on Friday continued their protest in freezing weather outside the Quetta Press Club, demanding the release of salaries that have allegedly been withheld for the last four years.
The demonstration, which involves personnel from 18 different districts with around two decades of service to the federal government, resumed after previous assurances from provincial authorities failed to materialise.
Speaking to PPI, protest leader Lal Muhammad Jan Marri explained that a similar protest camp was established in 2024 but was called off on February 27 of that year. The cessation followed an assurance from Balochistan”s Chief Minister, Mir Sarfraz Bugti, who, according to Marri, made a “Balochi promise” to resolve their issues.
Marri stated that the Chief Minister’s commitments included reserving a special quota for the children of deceased and retired federal levies personnel, alongside other demands. However, he lamented that these promises have not yet been fulfilled.
The current sit-in was initiated on December 26, 2025, with the employees once again braving the harsh cold to press for their legitimate rights. The protest leader noted a lack of engagement from high-ranking officials, stating they had not bothered to visit the camp to ascertain the demonstrators” grievances.
The core demands of the protesting staff include the immediate payment of all outstanding salaries. Furthermore, they are calling on the authorities to grant them long-term security through either full pensionary benefits or a golden handshake scheme.