PHOTO: FILE
The new list issued by the ECP containing the names of female teachers is contrary to an understanding reached between the ECP and Karachi University Teachers Society (Kuts) earlier this month, in which it was agreed that only those teachers will perform election duties who volunteer to do so.
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The institution has received a list of 80 female teachers of not lower than grade-18 to perform election duties as polling officers, according to a professor at the varsity. "The ECP laws are clear in this regard that a grade-18 official will perform the duty of presiding or at least the assistant presiding officer. Do you expect the professors of KU to perform the duty of taking thumb impressions of voters now as polling officers?" the professor asked.
According to the professor, the new list has been issued as the ECP is facing shortage of female staff. A letter in this regard has been sent to a few of the professors from the registrar's office, a copy of which is also available with The Express Tribune.
KU will not be legally responsible if any disciplinary action is taken against any teacher by a returning officer (RO) or the district election commission, reads the letter. "This is an important national task and it is mandatory to comply with," the letter reads.
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What happened?
Earlier, in June, the Kuts announced not to perform election duties and warned of resisting all attempts by any law enforcement agency to arrest any teacher over non-compliance.
According to Kuts President Jamil Kazmi, dozens of women teachers complained about receiving 'harassing phone calls' warning them of arrests if they did not show up for the training sessions being organised for election preparation.
Tension escalated when KU teachers received a notice issued by the District East officer through the registrar for "not cooperating with the District Election Commission in discharging election duty".
The notice, dated June 4, stated that the ECP reserves the right to initiate disciplinary proceedings against them in light of Section 55 of the Election Act, 2017. "Be advised that violation of Section 184 (c) is also a penal offence which carries punishment under Section 188 of the Election Act, 2017," it read.
The penalty for violation of official duty in connection with the election under Section 188 is, the notice read: "An election official or any other person on duty in connection with an election who is guilty of an offence under Section 184, Section 186 or Section 187 shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may be extended to two years or with fine which may extend to one hundred thousand rupees or with both."
Later, Sindh Election Commissioner Yousuf Khattak warned of action against the teachers of KU who had refused to perform election duty. After this, the KU management decided to make alternative arrangements for the election commission and it was amicably decided that the KU will provide the 1800 staff required by the election commission that will include teaching and non-teaching staff.
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Ready to go jail
In a press conference held on Saturday, Kazmi said that all teachers are ready to go to jail but they will not perform election duties. "If any teacher is arrested, the management will be responsible for the repercussions," he said, adding that all 780 teaching staff will get themselves arrested. "If any police mobile reaches a senior teacher or they receive any summon, it will not be tolerated."
Announcing the boycott of the exams from today (Saturday), he said the Kuts general body will announce its future plan in this regard on Monday.
Kazmi recalled that in the 1994 general elections, several discrepancies occurred with KU's female staff after which the ECP gave KU teachers' exemption from election duties. He reasoned that all teachers of all the big varsities of the country, such as Peshawar University, Sindh University and Punjab University are exempted from election duties due to their research work.
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