TAXILA: Bar associations of Attock, Hassanabdal and Taxila on Saturday observed a strike and boycotted court proceeding to express solidarity with teachers who have been protesting for the fifth consecutive day.

The protest call was given by All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA) against the implementation of new leave encashment and pension rules, which would affect teachers and other government employees serving in various provincial departments.

Closure of primary, middle and high schools and colleges brought academic activities across the district to a complete standstill. Similarly, routine affairs in various government departments of the districts, including offices of the commissioner, deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, district council, health, education, municipal corporation and municipal committees were also disrupted due to the strike.

Presidents of the respective bars in Attock, Hassanabdal and Taxila on Saturday observed complete strike and no lawyer appeared before the court.

In Attock, hundreds of teachers from over 40 government-run schools in Hazro, Fatehjang, Jand, Injra, Pindigheb and Hassanabdal gathered at Government Pilot Higher Secondary School Attock city to stage a sit-in.

Addressing participants, All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA) Attock chapter ChairmanYasir Ali Khan Alizai, while speaking on the occasion, declared that the sit-in would not end until the notification of acceptance of the three major demands was issued.

Professor and Lecturers Association Attock chapter President Prof Hub-i-Ali said black armbands would be worn and teachers’ boycott would continue.

He said a total of 34 organisations representing employees from various Punjab government departments, including health, education and higher education, along with members of the All Pakistan Clerks Association (Apca), were participating in the sit-in.

In Taxila, protesters held placards and banners during the sit-in staged at Government High School Taxila on Saturday. Teachers from the rural and urban areas of the city participated in the protest.

Addressing the participants, Punjab Teachers Union Rawalpindi chapter chief organiser Raja Ajyab demanded the government to withdraw amendments to the leave encashment and pension rules, stop privatisation of government schools and give them group insurance on retirement.

He also demanded that the government release the teachers’ representatives.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2023