, May 19 -- Employees from various departments of the Secretariat on Monday staged a sit-in programme in front of the Ministry of Finance building.

They were demanding ration benefits and increased allowances similar to those received by members of the armed forces and police.

The demonstrators began gathering at around 2:45 PM in front of the Ministry of Finance building, coming out from different Secretariat buildings.

Carrying placards and chanting slogans, they eventually moved to the 4th floor of the building, positioning themselves in front of the office of the finance adviser.

At the time, the finance adviser was reportedly was in a pre-scheduled programme inside his office.

Being told about the meeting the protesters stopped ...