LOWER DIR: Jamaat-i-Islami former provincial chief Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan has said that parliament is frequently passing bills to increase the perks and privileges of the elite class.

He was addressing the monthly congregation of his party held at Ahyaul Uloom Balambat as chief guest here on Sunday. The event was also addressed by JI district chief Izazul Mulk, general secretary Hafiz Yaqubur Rehman and others.

Senator Mushtaq said that JI was set to launch a massive protest campaign for the release of Dr Aafia, who was jailed in America. He had recently met with Dr Aafia in an American jail.

He said the government bowed down to International Monetary Fund for $3 billion loan but it was not ready to change the luxurious lifestyle of elites. He said that salaries of judges were increased by Rs200,000. He said that judges should focus on provision of speedy justice to people.

Senator Mushtaq says party to launch drive for release of Dr Aafia from US prison

The JI leader asked the Muslim rulers to take practical steps for stopping acts of desecration and blasphemy in the western world.

TEACHERS: The local teachers here on Sunday announced to participate in the proposed protest sit-in in Peshawar on July 11 if their demands were accepted by the caretaker government.

The announcement was made during separate meetings of Secondary Schoolteachers Association in Talash, Maidan and Samarbagh. Teachers from different parts of the district attended the meetings presided over by sub-divisional presidents of the association.

Speaking on the occasion the leaders of the teachers including Sajid Khan, Ziaul Amin and others complained that SSTs had been deprived of upgradation since 1991. They said that the rest of the teaching cadres from primary schoolteachers to Qaris and theology teachers were upgraded twice and thrice.

They said that the previous PTI government had completed the process of promoting SSTs from BPS-16 to BPS-17 after on the order of court. They said that the caretaker government was deliberately delaying the matter. They said that teachers had no other option but to take to streets.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2023