Teachers unions protest, extreme of unrest in the Country

          Without discussing the legality of these Teachers’ Unions, the point of discussion is that the rise of this helpless and ignored class of Government Servants shows that the unrest among the Government Servants has touched its peak because normally Teachers, especially those of lower pay scales do not come out on the call of anyone because they always remain either in their personal or domestic problems. This year, it seems that something has gone wrong and against the Teachers which has compelled them to come out.

          The interesting aspect of this protest is that like ANP leading Government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and protesting against WAPDA, a department of Federal Government, a group of teachers named Malgary Ustazan, primarily relating to Awami National Party is protesting against both the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Federal Government for not resolving the problems related to their service.

          The issue of non-implementation of the Verdicts of the Apex Court, which I have always highlighted in my emails and which have been published by the newspaper “The Statesman” and website like www.makepakistanbetter.com , are now the topic of the discussion of these Teachers’ unions. Almighty Allah knows better that how far they are sincere with the teachers and are against the indifferent behaviour of the Government.

          At this stage, I would like to give two advices, one to the Government and other to the Teachers. The Government should treat the Government Servants in such a way and with this hope that tomorrow the people of governing party shall face these Government Servants in every village and street. They should not be treated in such a way that they may become prey to play in the hands of the opponents of the Government. To the teachers, I would like to say that they should not pin their hopes with any other political parties outside the Governments because almost all the political parties have used teachers in the elections and had made big promises but when came to power, they never took such measures which gave any relief to the teachers. Teacher is teacher whether he may belong to any Province. They should unite themselves for the struggle of their rights and they would win by their numerical strength. They should continue their struggle with utmost dignity and sobriety so that other people may learn the way of protest from them. If the Government paid no attention to them, the ultimate sufferer would be the governing party in the next election.

          Frankly speaking, the increase even recommended by the Pay and Pension Commission is not according to the calamity of the price-hike in the Country. The Government should not boast on the increase of the salaries because the majority of the Government servants are not aware of the dragon awaiting them in shape of various taxes or alterations in the existing taxes. The officials of the Finance Department first think on the regaining of the amount given to the Government Servants in shape of salaries and allowances.

Manzoor Ahmad Yousafzai

Tuesday, 25 May 2010