Punjab schoolteachers have launched a struggle in defence of their rights and for improved working conditions. The Punjab government has not paid the allowances announced in the last budget and are now planning to privatise the schools which were put under state control by the Bhutto government in the 1970s.
The Teachers' Union Federation has formed an alliance with the Mutahidda Mahaz Ammal Punjab (MMAP) for the struggle. On April 28 they held a rally in Lahore from Datta darbar to Nasir bagh. A large number of teachers attended the rally. The protesters had placards stating their demands and chanted slogans against these fresh attacks. The police eventually arrived and brutally attacked the demonstration, injuring many teachers.
The chairman of the MMAP, Hafiz Abdul Nasir, announced that teachers would not be going to schools or classrooms from May 7-9 in Rawal Pindi, Multan and Lahore. If the Punjab government does not meet the demands of the teachers then the teachers have pledged to spread the movement throughout Punjab.
The PTUDC stands firmly with the teachers in their fight. We demand that all teachers' unions and federations throughout Pakistan support the teachers in Punjab.