PESHAWAR: Teachers of the government’s primary schools from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa protested here on Friday for the second consecutive day with the police arresting more than 100 protesters and booking their 13 leaders for rioting, attempt to murder, and other offences.

On Thursday, the police had baton-charged hundreds of protesting primary schoolteachers and fired teargas on them after the latter blocked the Khyber Road near the provincial assembly’s building to demand upgradation of their posts, restoration of allowances, and promotion.

The All Primary Teachers Association (APTA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, had announced the closure of all primary schools in the province to protest the baton-charge and teargas shelling by the police against protesting teachers. It had also said a protest would be staged outside the provincial assembly’s building.

On Friday, the police deployed scores of personnel in the nearby schools, including Higher Secondary Schools No 1, where the protesting teachers usually gather before marching on the Khyber Road.

Schoolteachers continue protest for upgradation of posts, promotion

In the afternoon, schoolteachers staged a sit-in at the Jinnah Park near the assembly’s building. The sit-in continued until night.

Talking to reporters, APTA president Azizullah Khan said the teachers held talks with the government’s representatives, who promised the early resolution of their issues.

He, however, said the government’s members asked protesters to end the sit-in.

“We’d reservations as the government’s commitments were verbal and not written,” he said.

Mr Azizullah said the authorities were reluctant to sign an agreement with teachers on the latter’s demands.

“After discussion with our district presidents, we [association] have decided to continue with the Jinnah Park sit-in,” he said.

The APTA leader said no progress was seen on the demand of the release of teachers.

The East Cantonment police station registered an FIR against 13 protesters, including Azizullah, Syed Miraj Ali, Bacha Mahmood, Khalid Kamal, Shafiq Ahmed Khan, Qazi Habibullah, Ali Rehman, Kamran Khurram, Rafaqatullah, Attiqur Rehman Mughal and Umer Sher Khan for allegedly leading hundreds of protesting teachers to block the Khyber Road and shout slogans against the government.

The FIR said the protesters refused to talk to the authorities and pelted police with stones and opened fire which forced the police personnel to use teargas and baton- charge them. It added that eight police officials, including the SSP (operations), suffered injuries after the stones thrown by protesters hit him.

The FIR registered under sections 324, 353, 341, 148, 149, 186 and 187 of the Pakistan Penal Code for assault or criminal force to deter public servants from discharge of their duty, attempt to murder, wrongful restraint, rioting, unlawful assembly, obstruction of public servants in discharge of duties, and mischief.

An official at the East Cantonment police station toldDawnthat 116 teachers were taken into custody after they clashed with the police.

The protesting teachers demanded upgradation of the PST post from BPS-12 to BPS-15, ensuring promotion for senior teachers and restoration of two allowances granted to them in 2011 and 2015.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2022