LAHORE, Sept 19: Following the confirmation of torture of Baghbanpura high school headmaster Anwar Ali Mujahid at the hands of local goons, the Punjab special secretary education (schools) has asked the DIG to take stern action against all those involved in the incident.

The teachers community meanwhile observed a strike in state-run schools in the Punjab capital to register their protest against the humiliation of a senior teacher.

Mian Akhlaq Guddu along with his gunman had allegedly beaten up Mr Mujahid, in his late 50s, in his office for not taking his calls. Though Mr Mujahid told him that the office landline telephone was out of order and he was on leave following the death of his younger brother, the accused locked the office from inside and thrashed him.

It was learnt that a top political leader in the province had asked the officials concerned to keep the incident in low key.

Sources said that Mian Akhlaq Guddu, husband of Shalimar Town Nazim Shafqatun Nisa, had a history of misbehaving with educationists in the Baghbanpura area.

According to them, Guddu had also misbehaved and threatened Government College for Women, Baghbanpua, principal Dr Zamurad in 2002. She submitted a complaint to then Punjab education secretary Sibtain Fazal-i-Haleem who asked Guddu to tender an apology within two hours otherwise he would get him arrested. Guddu went to the college, tendered apology and gave an undertaking in writing that he would not enter the campus again.

The sources said that Guddu had also exchanged hot words with a senior teacher of the Government College, Baghbanpura, over the admission of a student.

They said that a couple of years ago, Guddu survived a grenade attack on him by two teenagers reportedly after he had humiliated their mother.

In the fresh case, police concerned had also refused to accept Mr Mujahid’s application against Guddu because of latter’s influence.

Boycott: Teachers on Tuesday observed a complete strike. They held meetings in schools and condemned the incident. They urged the government to take action against the accused to protect the honour of the community and dignity of the headmaster’s office.

An All Pakistan Teachers Federation meeting chaired by Azam Butt asked the government to register a criminal case against the accused otherwise the federation would call for a complete strike all over the province. He said the federation would also call the teachers to besiege the Punjab Civil Secretariat and Punjab Assembly.

The federation meeting passed a resolution asking the government to stop political interference and hoologanism in educational institutions. It said the teachers should be given due respect to maintain peace on campuses.

Minister: Punjab Education Minister Mian Imran Masood met Mr Mujahid and assured him that the education department would extend all-out help to him.

The minister said that he was shocked to hear the entire story, adding that the act was shameful. He said that no one would be allowed hooliganism in educational institutions and strict legal action would be taken against those who tried to disturb peace on campuses in the province. He said the respect of the teachers would be ensured at all costs.

He said that Mr Mujahid was one of the best teachers and had won the best headmaster’s award four times.