Former president Asif Ali Zardari condemned the use of force and teargas shelling to quell the protest of government employees in the federal capital on Wednesday.

“I feel bad about what happened at D-Chowk in Islamabad. The employees who opted for protest in pursuit of due raise should not be treated as an enemy,” the former president said.

Coming down hard on PM Imran Khan-led government for mistreating the protesting staff, he said: “Once I said what Imran will do after coming into power. He has nothing to do with public service.” 

He questioned as to why the government employees are being deprived of their due rights. The lower cadre staff are living below the poverty line now, he rued.

Talking to Islamabad airport staff a few months ago, Zardari said he knew the employees were finding it hard to make month ends. But the staff needn’t worry, the former president said promising 50 per cent salary raise after coming into power again. 

Flanked by his daughter Asifa Bhutto, he was about to leave Islamabad for Karachi after appearing in an accountability court in the Toshakhana reference in August 2020.