Moalims

EDO Education Lahore has barred govt teachers of district to perform election duties in Sheikhupura district

Teachers warned of strict disciplinary action if they violate his order

Lahore’s teaching staff deployed for duty in local government polls in Sheikhupura scheduled to be held today (Thursday) has been caught between a rock and a hard place as the Executive District Officer (EDO) Education Lahore Pervez Akhtar has warned his subordinates against performing duties in other districts.

The second phase of local government (LG) polls in Punjab is being held on Thursday in 12 districts of Punjab, including Lahore’s neighbouring Sheikhupura district.

A government school teacher from Shahdara, on condition of anonymity, told Pakistan Today that he had been ordered by the Election Commission to report for duty in Sheikhupura district but his headmaster had ordered him not to perform his duty as he had received clear instructions directly from the EDO’s office that no teacher from his district would perform election duty in any other district.

Another female teacher from Lahore who did not want to be named told this scribe that her headmistress had told her that if she went for her election duty, she might be subjected to strict departmental enquiry as per the directive of the EDO.

“My colleagues and I are in a state of confusion as we do not know which orders we are supposed to obey – ECP’s or the EDO’s,” she said. Shahdara and Sheikhupura are adjacent to each other and their jurisdiction is creating confusion among the higher-ups.

Spokesperson of the Election Commission of Punjab Huda Ali Gohar told Pakistan Today that the ECP was well within its rights according to the constitution to depute teachers in other districts as it could depute staff from any department of the Punjab government. She added that police personnel from other districts had also been deputed for the polling day to ensure law and order.

“ECP can meet its requirement for staff by deputing officials from other departments, including the Education department,” she said.

A senior officer of the Education Department in Lahore said on the condition of anonymity that ECP receives the list of teachers from the Education Department and assigns them the election duties.

He said that it was the prerogative of the EDO concerned whether they allow their staff or bar them from performing their duties in elections. “EDO is the real boss in this matter,” he said.

According to some reports, the ECP has made up its mind to initiate legal action against the EDO Education Lahore because he is interfering in constitutional affairs.

The EDO was not available for comments despite repeated attempts.

News Reference