Balochistan Government Suspends 38 Educators Amid Protests

Government Action Against Educators

Quetta, January 12: The provincial administration of Balochistan, Pakistan, has taken stringent measures against public sector educators by suspending 38 assistant professors and lecturers, including six women, for a period of three months. This action is a result of their involvement in strikes and protests, as reported by local media on Monday.

A notification from the chief secretary of Balochistan indicated that these suspensions were enacted under the Balochistan Employees’ Efficiency and Discipline Act (BEDA). The educators were accused of participating in strikes, obstructing government operations, and violating official regulations.

Among those suspended is Abdul Qudoos Kakar, the chairman of the Balochistan Grand Alliance, which has been leading the protest movement advocating for various employee rights.

Employee organizations have condemned the government's actions, viewing the suspensions as an attempt to stifle the right to protest. They warned that such punitive actions could heighten tensions between the government and its workforce.

Additionally, the Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC) criticized the government's decision, labeling it as part of a broader trend of suppressing dissenting voices. In their statement, they noted that the history of Balochistan shows that whenever calls for justice arise, the government resorts to forceful suppression.

The BSAC spokesperson remarked that the suspension of educators, including female teachers, alongside the arrests of alliance leaders, signifies a government that fears knowledge and intellectual discourse. They emphasized that despite claims of enhancing education, the government's actions contradict its stated priorities.

The organization urged the Balochistan government to abandon its rigid stance and engage in constructive dialogue with the protesting educators.