Despite Punjab government's unbending stance, the PCS officers have decided to continue their struggle for their rights. Talking to the media outside district court, PCS Officers Association President Rai Manzoor Nasir said they would continue to fight for their rights and would not bow down till the DMG officers were removed from the province.
"We are ready to face imprisonment but our struggle will continue, and we will observe strike on March 21," he added. He averred that both the government and DMG officers were using unfair means against the PCS officers to suppress their just cause. He observed that the Punjab government was acting on the advice of the DMG officers. He said now they have only one-point agenda, struggle would continue till last DMG officer leave the province.
He complained that during the detention, the PCS officers were treated harshly. "All night, we were shifted from one police station to another police station, and nether we were allowed to sleep nor food was given," he added.
Meanwhile, no protest demonstration or strike was observed in the Punjab Civil Secretariat, which was announced by the PCS Officers Association against the arrests of the PCS Officers since the provincial administration imposed Section 144 inside and in the surroundings of civil secretariat on Saturday. Attendance at the Punjab Civil Secretariat remained around 70 percent. Heavy contingents of police, both in uniform and plain clothes, were deployed inside and outside the civil secretariat.
The administrative secretaries checked the attendance of their subordinates and ensured that they should not leave the office after marking presence. Though they remained on their duty, but the movement of the files was very slow from one table to another table. In most of the offices, the officials remained busy in whispering and their body language suggested unrest among them on the yesterday's incident. The atmosphere of the civil secretariat was gloomy.
According to the Punjab government spokesperson, under section 144 the Punjab Home Department has prohibited taking out of any rally or procession, holding of public meetings, demonstrations and delivering objectionable speeches, distribution of objectionable and provocative written material, disruption of official business in any manner and assembly of five and more persons in and around the Punjab Civil Secretariat, Poonch House, Old P&D, P&D Building, Board of Revenue, C&W and Irrigation Department and Management & Professional Development Department. It has directed the Administrator of City District Government Lahore to extend its order with effect from March 21 to March 27 within the revenue limits of District Lahore.
He said the attendance of officers and officials in all offices of Punjab government throughout the province and Punjab Civil Secretariat remained as per routine and the official work continued without hindrance during office hours and no untoward incident took place. Also, disciplinary action has been initiated against 26 provincial officers.