March 25, 2007	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 5, 1428

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RAWALPINDI, March 24: Resentment prevails among the teachers of government schools and colleges as they are being directed by the district government to attend President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s public rally at Liaquat Bagh on March 27 in connection with the inauguration of the Leh Nullah expressway, it has been learnt.

According to information gathered by this reporter, the heads of some schools and colleges have been verbally directed by the district officers concerned to attend the Liaquat Bagh rally with their staff. These heads of the educational institutions have asked their staff to comply with the orders.

The teachers have been warned that action would be taken against the absent teachers under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act.

Some teachers on condition of anonymity told Dawn that show-cause notices had been served on those teachers who did not attend the public rally of the Punjab chief minister on December 25, when he inaugurated the Dhoke Matkal Girls College.

The government do not, and cannot, issue written directives in this regard as there is no such provision in the law, said the teachers. They vowed to challenge the directives in the high court if they received written orders for attending any public rally addressed by a political leader.

Female teachers were especially concerned in this situation. “You cannot leave the place before the rally is concluded. It is very difficult for women and diabetic patients to sit for a long time in a public rally,” a female teacher said. She said teachers coming from far-off areas of the district faced transport problem on their way back.

When contacted, an office-bearer of the Punjab Teachers Union confirmed that the teachers community was being forced to attend the rally of the president on March 27. Requesting not to be named, he said majority of teachers were annoyed and determined not to attend the rally despite all pressure tactics.

He said all government educational institutions would remain closed in Rawalpindi on March 27 just to make teachers attend the rally.

District Officer Colleges Prof Saadullah refused to comment on the matter, whereas EDO (education) Chaudhry Mohammad Yousaf could not be contacted as he was out of the city.