Sit-in outside Imran Khan’s residence
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ISLAMABAD: The gates of Imran Khan’s house in Banigala have become a wailing wall for the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) who travel to Islamabad with requests, demands and hopes.
For many months, people from KP have been coming to Banigala to hold sit-ins outside Mr Khan’s gates. For the last two months, a large number of people have been gathering here for various reasons.
On Sunday, employees of the Workers Welfare Board Schools reached Banigala. On Monday, they were joined by KP polio workers who descended here in the hopes of having their issues resolved.
Tahir Sajjad, an employee of a Workers Welfare Board School, KP, said 5,000 employees were working on contract basis in around 60 educational institutions of the board.
“The KP government has decided to advertise these jobs and have candidates take tests through the National Testing Service (NTS). We are not against the test but believe this should be taken for new appointments and existing employees should be regularised immediately,” he said.
Polio worker Saifullah said they have been facing threats from the Taliban and risking their lives but are not paid enough.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) General Secretary Jahangir Tareen visited the sit-in and assured protesters, on behalf of Imran Khan, that the provincial government will be contacted and issues of both groups will be resolved.
However, protesters remained encamped outside the house till the filing of this report.
Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2015
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Comments (53) Closed
Apr 14, 2015 07:19am
This is the new, novel kind of work!. Heard-about a similar kind of Anarchist across the border! At least IK is better than AK!.
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Apr 14, 2015 08:19am
Sitin culture bites both ways. Good!
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Apr 14, 2015 08:37am
Hahaha. PTI incompetence at its peak
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Apr 14, 2015 08:41am
IK , please look on this issue seriously...! We believe in you
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Apr 14, 2015 09:42am
This shows how much people love IK and he is so approachable.
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Apr 14, 2015 09:58am
What a trust people have on IK, long live IK.
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Apr 14, 2015 10:53am
@Shafique LOL you are funny. This shows how IK has neglected his people in KP while doing sit ins for seats in Lahore and now engaging in "word wars" MQM.
Otherwise, our "great" premier is "approachable" as well as he let IK sit for 126 days
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Apr 14, 2015 10:54am
@last comment And yet IK does not have the decency to address these people himself
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Apr 14, 2015 11:16am
Amazing IK...people have hope and trust on him!
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Apr 14, 2015 11:23am
It seems people don't trust the KP govt. or their elected reps.. and believe all power lies in the hands of Khan.
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Apr 14, 2015 11:23am
It is time he will now start action the time of promises is over now people want to see the changes in actual. A challenge for IK who is better in talking than action.
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Apr 14, 2015 11:32am
Benevolent Fund School in Peshawar has been closed by the PTI Govt rendering unemployed 65 employees. My sister with 18 years employment is sent home with a stroke of the pen. Family has fallen on hard times. So much for the slogan of 'naya Pakistan'
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Apr 14, 2015 11:37am
If KP/IK want to dish out quality education,there is no compromise on merit of teachers. They can be some time to prepare for the TEST though
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Apr 14, 2015 11:47am
You gave that culture to the masses Mr IK !!! Now face the music.
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Apr 14, 2015 12:20pm
Seems like PML-N supporters have misunderstood what is happening here. This is what you call lobbying in a democracy it's not a protest and it happens the world over.
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Apr 14, 2015 12:23pm
IK is the founder of sitins (Dharna) and now he is to face the music. He do not have time to listen the problems of KPK peoples who are sitting outside his lavish residence and he is sending other leaders to deal with.
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Apr 14, 2015 12:30pm
@Shafique this shows that the system is not working people are again after personalities. If the work is as per rules. It should be done with out Imran involvement, and if it is against the rules, should never be done
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Apr 14, 2015 12:35pm
They should go to CM house and not Banigala. IK is the PTI chief not KPK chief. This is dangerous trend in Pakistani politics as people tie hopes with the individuals instead of system.
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Apr 14, 2015 12:49pm
@Really I guess you need to read the article carefully. When a provincial government expels workers hired by previous governments without advertising jobs and without NTS system, the only option left is to end their contracts. This happened in punjab with EOBI workers too.
This bold step on part of the provincial government is bound to have repercussions, khan has already said that he will listen to only just and fair complaints.
These sit-ins have nothing to do with Khan ignoring the people of KPK. They are here because they know he would listen to just complaints and will act on fair matters and wont mint money
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Apr 14, 2015 12:57pm
cant even come out to listen to the grievances..says it all
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Apr 14, 2015 12:59pm
so now teachers are hired through NTS. commendable. this will change the whole education system in KP. people doing sit in to skip NTS. this should never be accepted. if those employees are not capable of passing NTS then they should be transferred to some other department from education. Good job KP Govt.
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Apr 14, 2015 01:01pm
This sit in of workers welfare board is pointless.They are asked to pass the NTS and then get there jobs back but they refuse because a majority of them got such jobs by bribes and other unfair means.If they are capable then why fear the NTS. It is really important to have the right employees who are competent and honest and NTS ensures it.
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Apr 14, 2015 01:29pm
The teachers protesting against the NTS must realize that its the Gov's respinsibilitu to hire competent work force..
Previous Gov hirings methods were flaud - This is to implement merit system in place.
To ensure a set standard for every 1.
So protest against this won't do any good as Gov won't backed down. People choose PTI to deliver and they r delivering by fixing the system.
As for polio workers , their sitins r justified. Yes, the KpK Gov must increase their pay and security and bring out new methods of polio eradication schemes.
It also shows how much people love and trust Imran Khan - They knw their voicr will be heard with appropriate answer..
Once the local body elections r done as promised by PTI's leadership - Then all these problems n others would be resolved with relative ease..
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Apr 14, 2015 01:38pm
People only sitting there bcoz they believe Imran Khan will solve there problem. Have you ever heard anybody sitting outside Nawaz Shaarif etc? Bcoz they know they will get nothing!
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Apr 14, 2015 01:49pm
PML-N backed crowd!
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Apr 14, 2015 02:10pm
The employees of Workers Welfare Board School protesting were given jobs during ANP's time without NTS test. They can get their jobs back if they pass the test. I feel they know they are incompetent, got their jobs due to political affiliation with ANP and won't pass the test. They know they would be exposed if they take the test, therefore, they are protesting. However, I believe that the concerns of the polio workers are genuine and should be seriously noticed and if they deserve a raise then do it. At least people have the freedom to register their problems in front of IK. People who protest in front of Bilawal House or PM's House get sprayed by water tankers or get shot by the so called rubber bullets.
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Apr 14, 2015 02:12pm
@SRQureshi Fully agree with your comment. Well done KPK govt!!
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Apr 14, 2015 02:35pm
All those who are criticizing ik without any reason what you people want that there should be no NTS test for recruitments? If kpk govt is taking right step and these people are forcing them retreat.
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Apr 14, 2015 03:02pm
@Shafique : If this is the metric of approachability and popularity, then PML N government is the most popular govt and Nawaz Sharif is the most approachable leader.
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Apr 14, 2015 03:12pm
Pakistan is probably the only country in the world where CONTRACT employees do a sit-in to get themselves permanent.
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Apr 14, 2015 03:17pm
This is a very positive sign for the PTI. Clearly shows that people have hopes in IK, and that is why they have camped outside his house, so their issues can be brought to his attention, and solved. Hardly anyone camps outside Raiwind or Bilawal house - obviously, people know nothing is going to come of it and it will be a complete waste of time! Good work, Khan sb, keep it up!
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Apr 14, 2015 03:33pm
"Sit-in outside Imran Khan’s residence"
Good. Block the road with containers, play music at night, deliver speeches and cook food. Let him get a taste of his own medicine.
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Apr 14, 2015 04:13pm
New culture of Dhranas for any right or wrong reason
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Apr 14, 2015 04:27pm
@Shiza where is shows incompetence by the way?
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Apr 14, 2015 04:30pm
@Really In Frankfurt Germany there are hundreds of people camping outside EU bank against various initiatives the EU and the German Govt. have taken. What you call it? Is German Govt. not delivering to the demands of people?
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Apr 14, 2015 04:32pm
where is the free education programme?
:-(
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Apr 14, 2015 04:33pm
So the argument of these protesters we were hired as temporary workers! now we should be hired as permanent without following the procedures and tests! ? why?
everyone should be a given a fair and equal chance!
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Apr 14, 2015 04:51pm
This may be an eye opener for Mr Khan and his party, that he should pay attention to the one province that he can make a difference in, rather than eyeing up the entire country!
Someone above said IK is so approachable. LOL. Is that why he came out and spoke to these people himself? No.
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Apr 14, 2015 05:30pm
Trying the taste of one's own medicine-the sit-ins
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Apr 14, 2015 06:45pm
At least people can protest outside IK's home unlike other head of parties.
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Apr 14, 2015 06:48pm
@Really
"Approachable" PM could not form an investigating team to find rigging in 3 constituencies IK alleged until Dharna was in place. Get your facts right.
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Apr 14, 2015 06:49pm
Has anyone seen a sitin outside Bilawal house or Nawaz's residence in Lahore?
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Apr 14, 2015 06:51pm
INCOMPETENT IK
Instead of going for the long shot only if IK would have built himself gradually not letting the people down who trusted him.not compromising other parties left overs into his own.
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Apr 14, 2015 08:25pm
@Shiza
Why not sit-ins at PM's residence who made millions while majority people live below the poverty line?
When will the government fulfill the basic necessities of the poor like clean water, shelter and food?
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Apr 14, 2015 09:10pm
@umair The Governments, PSUs all are adopting contact system, and the contract employees protesting for regularisation this against the rule of equal pay for equal work. When a regular employee earns is paid many times than the contract worker for the same work the resentment is sure to erupt that is what is happening .
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Apr 14, 2015 09:11pm
Well if Imran Khan can keep his job illegally (after resigning and not showing up for months n months, yet getting paid) by doing a sit-in.... then anyone should be able to do it!! right??
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Apr 14, 2015 09:28pm
@Really : Give me a break. Your great Priemier is not even capable of delivering anything that's why people don't bother to go to him. People have lost hope on him. Did you ever try to sit-in in front of his Palace in Raiwind?
People are able to go to Imran Khan's residence because they know he will not just call the police and try to force them out of there. They know there is a system in the Province and some one will pay attention to their demands.
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Apr 14, 2015 09:44pm
It's sad to see the narrow mindedness of our society, people start commenting without even reading or understanding the article!
These people are protesting because the KP govt is taking progressive steps and they are used to the old bribe/sifaarish culture and don't want to lose jobs that they aren't qualified for in the first place.
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Apr 14, 2015 10:08pm
This the true Arab tradition where ordinary people have acessess to their leaders. One of the Muslim generals after conquering Egypt settled himself there as the ruler and built a castle with doors, when one of the blessed Khalifa rashidun found out thr general was called back to Madinah and retired with only one she camel as retirement benefit. What good is leader who is no accessible to his people. Even in these modern times such practices exist in some parts of the Arab world.
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Apr 14, 2015 11:28pm
@Shiza Genius they are implementing merit base system, every sound individual would back it.
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Apr 15, 2015 03:51am
And these poor innocent people think that IK will help them. Why does not he come out and talk to them? Why will he do it? He has no solution (let alone any understanding) for every day common Pakistanis. Only talks! Bogus talks and lies. Pakistan's greatest problem is fake leaders (more appropriate word is misleaders) like IK. I feel extremely sorry for these naive people. There is still time. Go back to your province and elect a credible person.
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Apr 15, 2015 03:58am
Has any one sitting in the past got to meet the ex WC Champ and got his issue resolved?
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Apr 15, 2015 04:16am
This is true democracy! Can they dare to sit outside Nawaz Sharif's home? Have they even seen how his house door looks like?
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