CHARSADDA, July 25: The All Teachers Association (ATA) has threatened to boycott the October election duties and observe a hunger strike if the government did not withdraw it rationalisation policy immediately.

The office-bearers of the association, speaking at a protest meeting of teachers at Government High School No1 here on Wednesday, warned that if the 378 teachers sent to the surplus pool and those transferred to the other far flung districts were not reinstated on their previous positions, the teachers would launch an agitation against the government like the that of 1982.

They said that how could poor teachers with their meagre salaries maintain their households from the far-flung districts when they remained unable to make both ends meet being posted in their own areas.

They described the rationalization policy as the anti-people and demanded of the government to immediately withdraw it. The next meeting of the teachers would be held on July 31.

Later, an ATA team met with the district Nazim Nasir Muhammad Khan and thanked him for taking keen interest in the present crisis of the teachers.

The Nazim assured the delegation that he would play due his role in the present problems of teachers.

People spoke at the meeting included Charsadda District ATA President Muhammad Hussain Azad, Tagi Tesil ATA President Mian Muhammad Sajid, Abdus Sammad Khan of Malgari Usthazaan and Muhammad Nasir of Tanzeem-e-Asatheza.