Jamiat-e-Asatiza Pakistan (JAP) has announced the launch of a province-wide protest campaign in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to press for the acceptance of long-standing demands relating to salaries, pensions, service structure and allowances for teachers and government employees.
Press Conference in Alpuri
Speaking to journalists in Alpuri on Thursday, JAP district president Qari Abdullah Abid and general secretary Muhammad Fayaz said the organisation had repeatedly approached the government and relevant departments over employees’ issues but had received no meaningful response. They said the continued lack of progress had compelled the organisation to initiate what they described as a constitutional and peaceful protest movement across the province.
Phase One of Campaign
The leaders said the first phase of the campaign would comprise press conferences, consultative meetings and awareness drives in all districts to mobilise teachers, public servants and members of civil society over the issues faced by government employees. They added that the organisation had already held a provincial-level press conference in Peshawar where it formally announced its charter of demands and future strategy.
Warning the provincial government against delaying negotiations, the JAP leaders said teachers and government employees from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would stage a peaceful protest demonstration in Peshawar on June 10 if practical measures were not taken to address their concerns.
Key Demands
Among the key demands put forward by the organisation are a 100 per cent increase in salaries and pensions in line with inflation and a substantial rise in house rent, medical and conveyance allowances. The association has also demanded restoration of the previous pension system, reinstatement of the 2011 and 2015 allowances and extension of the Disparity Reduction Allowance (DRA) to all employees on the pattern adopted by the federal government.
The leaders further demanded the upgradation of CT and ET teachers as well as Qaris to Basic Pay Scale (BPS)-15, while Primary School Teachers (PSTs) should be upgraded to BPS-14. They said the proposed upgradation of all teaching cadres should be incorporated into the upcoming provincial budget and called for the immediate release of MPhil, MS and PhD allowances for school and college teachers.
Promotion and Regularisation
The organisation also urged the government to introduce automatic time-scale promotions for employees after completion of prescribed service periods and implement the four-tier promotion formula without further delay. In addition, the leaders demanded regularisation of all contract employees and abolition of the Contributory Provident Fund (CPF) system, calling for its replacement with the General Provident Fund (GPF) scheme.
Tax Exemption and Education Reforms
They also sought full tax exemption for teachers and recognition of MS degrees as equivalent to MPhil qualifications for allowance purposes. Expressing concern over reforms in the education sector, the JAP leaders opposed the privatisation of government schools, colleges and other educational institutions, urging the government to strengthen public-sector education instead of transferring its responsibilities to private entities.
