Empty words: Forced retirement of PTU chief puts talks in quandary

‘You can’t call for talks and victimise teachers at the same time’.

LAHORE:

The future of talks between the government and the Punjab Teachers’ Union (PTU) seemed bleak on Sunday as the teacher’s representative body was gearing to return to the streets to protest the union president’s compulsory retirement earlier this month.

The PTU has announced that it will stage a protest on Wednesday. PTU Central President Syed Sajjad Kazmi was issued orders of compulsory retirement by the Lahore Executive District Officer Education Pervaiz Akhtar in the first week of June.

Kazmi had been in service for 33 years. He last served as headmaster of the Muslim Elementary School in Harbanspura for three and a half years when the Education EDO issued orders of his compulsory retirement. The notification, dated June 4, carried orders of his compulsory retirement under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act 2006.

The reasons cited for the action include inefficiency, threatening a district officer and inciting teachers to protest against the government. Absence from duty on April 8 is also cited as one of the reasons in the orders. Kazmi claims he was called in for talks by the provincial education minister that day, amidst protests by the PTU.

The School Education Department had issued a notification on April 9 stating that Education Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan had formed a four-member committee to address the teachers’ concerns and present recommendations. Kazmi was a member of that committee along with SED Additional Secretary Ahmed Ali Kamboh and MPAs Taha Tia Noon and Mehwish Sultana.

Kazmi denies all allegations cited as reasons for his retirement except the one holding him responsible for gathering teachers to protest. “It is our right to raise our voice against government policies that we feel are oppressive and are adversely affecting our performance,” he said, speaking to The Express Tribune.

Kazmi said his retirement orders had been sent to his school and a replacement headmaster also appointed but, he claimed, he received no show-cause notice. He said he was handed out the orders even though there was no official inquiry into the allegations against him.

The committee which was to discuss issues pertaining to teachers failed to meet after its first meeting on April 21. The PTU says the committee was supposed to deliver recommendations on April 24. “They are merely delaying the talks,” says Kazmi. “If they were serious about addressing our issues, they would have taken solid steps instead of victimising union members. This is injustice.”

SED Additional Secretary Ahmed Ali Kamboh declined comment on Kazmi’s compulsory retirement. He said it fell in the jurisdiction of Lahore Education EDO. Regarding the resumption of talks, he said he was not aware of progress on the committee meetings. “Holding talks is a long process and one faces a lot of hurdles and hiccups along the way. We are committed to taking this forward.” Asked if Kazmi would still be included in the four-member committee for talks, Kamboh said the union could send a serving teacher as their representative. “If he [Kazmi] is not a teacher any more, he will not be on the committee,” he said.

The Education EDO’s office confirmed issuing the retirement order but denied that Kazmi was victimised.

“The notification was issued in accordance with our routine. It was on merit keeping in line the charge sheet,” said Lahore Education EDO Pervaiz Akhtar. He denied claims of vengeance against Kazmi. Citing office business, he said he was unable to comment further on other aspects of the issue.

PTU General Secretary Rana Liaquat Ali reaffirmed the union’s resolve to protest against Kazmi’s compulsory retirement in front of the Education Complex on Hall Road on June 18. “This would be the second such protest. The first one was held last Friday in front of the Lahore Press Club and hundreds of teachers participated in it.”

Earlier in June, the PTU said 15 of its members had been transferred to far flung areas over the past two months.

On Monday, the PTU is scheduled to hold a meeting to discuss Kazmi’s retirement including the right to appeal to the Lahore DCO or move through legal procedure.

“With or without Kazmi, the issue has taken a grave turn. Talks are not likely to continue, they [teachers] don’t want to talk. You can’t talk and continue to victimise us at the same time,” Ali says.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2014.