MANDI BAHAUDDIN, Sept 17: Teachers have announced closing schools till Sept 20 in protest against alleged life threats to the education executive district officer (EDO) hurled by a member of the provincial assembly (MPA). The MPA, however, disputes the allegation, saying the EDO was trying to cover-up his inefficiency.

All government schools and Education Department offices remained closed on the call of Muttahida Muhaz-i-Asatza on Wednesday to ‘condemn’ the alleged misbehaviour of MPA Asif Bashir Bhagat with EDO Ghulam Naz Shahzad and announced continuing the strike till Sept 20.

Punjab Teachers’ Union (Gujranwala division) President Bashir Ahmad Warraich told a press conference that they condemned life threats by MPA Bhagat. He said they had approached police for a case against the MPA, and that 10,000 teachers and 90,000 students of the district would not allow any one to politicise the department.

They urged the chief minister to take action against the MPA. They warned the strike could be extended to other parts of the province if their demands were not met.

Mr Bhagat denied any threats to the EDO, saying the official had been appointed by the previous PML-Q government, and he had his political agenda in the district. He said he had asked the EDO to improve the working of schools in his constituency, “which perhaps annoyed the EDO”.