RAWALPINDI: More than 60 people, including teachers, clerks and sanitation staff, from the education department were booked on charges of violence, assaulting and obstructing officials from performing their duties, injuring and depriving them of cash on Thursday.

On the other hand, the police arrested 19 teachers and produced them in the court of a magistrate seeking their remand for two days.

According to an investigating officer, eight other people nominated in the FIR have sought their pre-arrest bail while search was underway to arrest the remaining persons.

The FIR against more than 60 people, 32 of them identified, was registered on the complaint of Mohammad Azam, the chief executive officer (CEC) of the District Education Authority.

The complainant stated that following directives of the deputy commissioner, he arrived at the District Education Authority office on Murree Road to assume the charge of CEO on Thursday.

He said some teachers, clerks and other staff, including sweepers and 30 other people, allegedly attacked and assaulted him along with deputy district education officer Mohammad Asif. Mr Azam claimed that the attackers also deprived them of Rs70,000.

He pointed out that after being transferred by the previous government, he and Mr Asif were reinstated on their posts by the present regime.

Police had baton charged teachers and clerks protesting against the appointment of Mr Azam as the CEO on Thursday.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2022