SWAT: The deputy commissioner issued a terrorism threat alert here on Thursday and advised that all public gatherings should be postponed. According to a notification of the deputy commissioner’s office, during a meeting of the special district intelligence coordination committee, it was informed that there was a high-level threat to any gatherings or processions in the district as the terrorists might attempt to exploit the current law and order situation. It was stated by the quarters concerned that any large public gathering could become a soft target for terrorists, and advised the postponement of any such event in the larger public interest. However, in response to the notification, elders and peace activists rejected the threat alert and criticised the quarters concerned for failing to protect the convoy of foreign diplomats in the area last Sunday. They also stated that they would participate in the grand procession organised by the Swat Qaumi Jirga at Nishat Chowk on Friday (today). GOVT EMPLOYEES’ PROTEST: All government employees’ grand alliance held a protest in front of the Swat Press Club against the imposition of heavy taxes on salaries of the public sector departments’ employees. Addressing the demonstration, public health engineering workers’ association’s provincial general secretary Subhan Ali, population welfare department’s field staff association chairman Ali Mohammad Khan and others said that imposing taxes on the salaries of government employees was highly inappropriate and unacceptable. “Instead of increasing salaries in proportion to inflation, imposing taxes on government employees’ salaries is cruel and unjustified,” they slammed. They added that the new pension regulations introduced by the provincial government were equivalent to eliminating the due rights of government employees after retirement. They demanded of the provincial government to reverse these decisions in the larger interest of the employees. The protest leaders also strongly critcisied abolition of the employees’ son quotaand termed it an anti-worker decision. “Son’s job quota for public sector employees must be restored, and a proper service structure should be provided in this regard,” they emphasised. The speakers strongly urged the provincial government to consider all their demands and provide the necessary facilities. They warned that if their demands were not met, government employees would not hesitate to take further action, including protests, to secure their rights.