KOHAT: The sub-divisional education officer (female) has demanded action against three male teachers under the Harassment at Workplace Act allegedly for hurling threats at her after she refused to revise a proposal for rationalisation of female primary schoolteachers.

In a letter addressed to the district education office (male), a copy of which is also available with Dawn, Ms Asifa said she had prepared a list of rationalisation of primary schoolteachers on Jan 13, 2021, which was approved by the DEO.

She said on Jan 26, when she was in the DEO office (female), the three male teachers from different schools threatened her of consequences if she did not revise the list.

In the letter also addressed to the directorate of education, she said the teachers were putting pressure on her through their cronies in the education department and in political circles.

She also warned of filing a defamation case against them for publishing a concocted story to defame her in a local newspaper if action was not taken against them.

When contacted, district education officer (female), Rizwana Liaquat, clarified that she had no knowledge of any such case. If the victim had any grievance she should have sent a complaint directly to her.

She, however, admitted that the accused male teachers were in her office when Ms Asfia had come to her office for some work.

BIKE THIEVES ARRESTED: The Saddar police arrested a six-member gang of motorcycle thieves on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference, DSP Nazir Hussain said over complaints of motorcycle and cattle theft DIG Kohat division Tayyab Hafeez Cheema had constituted a team under him which arrested the gang.

He said four motorcycles, cattle, and weapons were recovered from the men.

Also, district wildlife officer Abdul Samad Wazir and sub-divisional officer Shabbir Khan led a walk to mark the World Wildlife Day on Wednesday.

On the occasion, Mr Wazir said forests were a lifeline for both humans and animals and provided a clean atmosphere. He said it was their duty to protect wildlife and their breeding spaces.

Separately, a truck hit an electricity pole near the old tax office in the wee hours on Wednesday, disrupting power supply to a vast area for several hours.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2021