Women teachers irked by assignments in far-off areas

Officers required to reach stations by 6am despite lack of conveyance at that time

ISLAMABAD: The female teachers selected for election duties in far off areas are disconcerted, while those given two duties in two constituencies simultaneously are left wondering what to do. Female presiding officers are also worried how they will stay the night at polling stations as directed by the returning officers.

Over 5,000 teaching and non-teaching staff—employed by the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) —have been engaged by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to serve as presiding officers, senior assistant presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, polling officers and helpers.



The selected female teachers have been asked to perform duties in Chirrah, Nilore, Loi Bher, Humak, Panjgaran and other far off suburbs when they easily could have been accommodated in nearby areas and staff of rural areas could be appointed in their respective areas. The teachers on duty have been asked to reach to their polling stations at 6am, a time that would be difficult for them considering the lack of transport facilities available at that time.

A teacher said she works in F-8/1 College but has been assigned duty in Mora Kalo, and her colleague in Nilore stations of which they do not know the exact location. The teachers of G-10/4 College said they were asked to reach Mohrrian, Humak and Jaglot which are out of the way.



In certain cases married couples who are both teachers and are assigned duties in different areas.

And those who have children are worried where to leave them during their days long engagements. Those who are sick also worried how they will be able to perform hours’ long duties without breaks and any facilities as this time polling time has also increased.

Many teachers have been appointed wrongly in two constituencies simultaneously. ‘How can a teacher perform duty in polling station situated in sector I-10 as well as in Tarlai?’ asked a teacher whose name is on two lists.

Many of the teachers are worried because they have received their election duty letters for two polling stations, a teacher said. For example Rasheed Ahmed, Zubair Abbasi and Yousaf  Mahmood who have been appointed as polling officer in Kot Hathial were also appointed in sector G-8/4 and in G-9/3. Ashfaq Ahmed Baig was also appointed as Presiding Officer in NA-54 and in NA-53. Similarly Misba Waqar also got two appointment letters from returning officers of NA-54 and NA-53. Many appointment letters do not show the cell numbers of polling staff so the staff of polling stations cannot  contact each other.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22^nd, 2018.