Balochistan schoolteachers’ hunger strike outside the provincial assembly entered the eighth day on Wednesday.

Eleven schoolteachers have been on a ‘hunger strike till death’ to mount pressure on the government for acceptance of their 22-points demands including upgradation.

“We want justice and equal rights as per the teachers of other three provinces of the country,” Muhammad Siddique Mashwani, one of the central leaders of the Government Teachers Association Balochistan (GTAB) said.

He added that despite repeated appeals and requests, the provincial government was reluctant to issue the upgradation order for teachers.

In Balochistan, 30,000 junior teachers would benefit from the upgradation, Mashwani said.

Scores of teachers and office bearers of other associations were also present outside the Balochistan Assembly.

The protesting teachers also disrupted the flow of traffic.

“Our main demand is the upgradation of 30,000 teachers,” Habibur Rehman Mardanzai, the President of the GTAB said.

He also threatened to lay siege to the Balochistan Assembly in case the government failed to address the grievances of the protesting teachers.

“We will intensify our protest with the passage of time,” Mardanzai warned.

Provincial ministers and members of the provincial assembly also visited the hunger strike camp and assured them resolution of all their problems.

“We support all demands of the teachers,” Arif Jan Muhammad Hassani, a lawmaker from the ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) said.

He however urged the government and especially the education department to take notice of the strike observed by the teachers community outside the Assembly.

“Someone should listen and resolve the grievances of protesting teachers,” Muhammad Hassani said.

The condition of two teachers on hunger strike also deteriorated who were provided medical treatment inside the protest camp.

An ambulance was also parked outside the camp by the health department to provide all basic facilities in case of any emergency situation.

GTAB has complained that junior teachers were elevated in the rest of the country and the teachers of Balochistan were being denied their rights.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2023.