KARACHI, Sept 22: Eminent personalities of the judiciary, educationists and social workers on Friday termed the ban on teachers’ associations in the province a complete violation of the country’s constitution and a test case for teachers of the entire country.

They were speaking at a seminar on the “Importance of freedom of expression and teachers in educational process”. The event was organised by a group of senior retired teachers at the PMA House Karachi.

The speakers were of the view that if a joint struggle was not launched against this action of the government, similar ban would be imposed all over the country.

They said that it was an autocratic step of the rulers, who belonged mostly to the feudal class and added that unless a joint and collaborative struggle was launched for the revival of genuine democracy and elimination of feudalism in the country, such violations of the constitution would continue.

The speakers called for creating awareness among the masses to support the teachers’ community in their struggle for their democratic rights as the ruling classes intended to keep the masses uneducated and considered teachers as the biggest hurdle in the implementation of their plans.

The former judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court, Justice (retd) Wajihuddin Ahmed, said that the Sindh government's notification regarding ban on teachers' association was “illegal and against the Constitution” as the Constitution guaranteed both the freedom of association and the freedom of assembly.

He said that even the Supreme Court of Pakistan had ruled that the civil servants could not form political parties but they had the right to form associations and added that the Sindh government's notification in this regard was distorting facts.

The former judge said that the Pakistanis were living in a feudal society where the feudal class wanted to keep people illiterate so that they could not demand their rights, protest against the non-provision of the basic amenities like quality education and health. He said that without the elimination of feudalism, true democracy could not be brought to the country.

“The Sindh chief minister and the education minister, both are feudal and despite acquiring education, they have the same mentality. They have taken an autocratic step” he said adding that the teachers must continue their struggle for their legal, basic and democratic rights.

Eminent lawyer Sami Ahmed said that there was no Constitution and democracy in the country and the only way to get the basic rights was democratic struggle within the parameters of the Constitution.

“Democracy is the key to rule of law and good governance. It discourages corruption and malpractices and if anybody wants to get his or her democratic rights, he should struggle for genuine democracy in the country” he said adding that the teachers should continue their campaign till the ban on their associations is withdrawn.

Mr Ahmed advised the teaching community to take out more rallies and processions for their rights and assured that this time, people from all walks of life would accompany them in their campaign and democratic struggle.

The former office-bearer of the Pakistan Medical Assocuation (PMA), Dr Shershah Syed said that illiteracy was one of the major problems confronting the country. He, however, accused teachers for the present state of affairs. Citing the chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Dr Attaur Rahman, he said that despite being a teacher himself, Dr Atta misguided the Pakistan government by saying that the country needed PhDs although he could have had convinced the government to educate each and every child up to primary level.

“Currently in Pakistan, we have 14 kinds of educational systems. Our basic issue is illiteracy and then health. Our ruling class wants to keep us uneducated so that it could do whatever it wants and deprive people of their basic rights” he said adding that the teachers must play their due role set things straight.Senior retired teacher and former DO (Colleges) Prof Haroon Rasheed said that the ban on teachers’ associations was an issue of democracy and at a time when teachers were calling for withdrawing ban on student unions, their own unions and associations were being banned.

Prof Rasheed claimed that the teachers associations, despite their shortcomings, were raising voice against the prevailing corruption in the provincial education department, which was even being acknowledged by Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim but instead of taking their protest seriously, they were asked to mind their own businesses.

Prof Rasheed highlighted the issues of the lack of teachers at schools and colleges, corruption in the recruitment of teachers, embezzlement of funds, and appointment of retired but favourite persons on important positions in the Sindh education department. The senior educationist said that when all such issues were raised by the teaching class, the teachers’ associations were declared unlawful.

The head of primary teachers association, Abdul Rahman, said that the Sindh education department had compelled the teachers to adopt the course of agitation as it was the most corrupt department in the entire country, where nothing could be done without greasing the palms of the government officials.

He said that the education department officials including the education minister and the secretaries were involved in educational murder of the students and when these issues were raised, they reminded the teachers of their responsibilities and banned their right to express their concerns.

Several other experts and personalities including eminent social worker Nargis Rahman, Prof Dewan Aftab Ahmed and Prof Qazi Siraj also spoke on the occasion and vowed to continue the democratic struggle till the withdrawal of ban on teachers' associations and unions.

On the occasion, the president of the All Pakistan Primary School’s Teachers Association, Syed Ahmed, announced to organise protest demonstrations and rallies after the holy month of Ramazan against the removal of over 100 teachers by the Sindh education department.—PPI