QUETTA, Pakistan – In a sharp escalation of tensions in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, the provincial government has suspended 38 assistant professors and lecturers, including six female college teachers, for three months. The move targets public sector educators who participated in protests demanding better rights and conditions.
The suspensions, announced via a notification from the Balochistan Secretary, invoke the Balochistan Employees Efficiency and Discipline Act (BEEDA). Officials cite the teachers’ involvement in strikes, locking government offices, and disrupting official duties as violations warranting the action.
Among those suspended is Abdul Quddus Kakar, chairman of the Balochistan Grand Alliance, a coalition of government employees advocating for longstanding grievances like fair wages and improved working conditions. The alliance has led multi-day demonstrations across the province, drawing thousands into the streets.
Criticism has poured in from employee unions and activist groups. They label the suspensions as a blatant attempt to suppress the fundamental right to protest. ‘This is not justice; it’s retaliation against voices seeking accountability,’ said a union spokesperson, warning that such measures could widen the rift between the government and its workforce.
The Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC) went further, framing the crackdown as part of a historical pattern of silencing dissent in Balochistan. ‘Governments here have always crushed calls for truth and justice with force and vengeance,’ their statement read. They highlighted the irony of punishing educators – including women – while claiming to prioritize education reform.
BSAC accused authorities of fearing ‘knowledge and the pen,’ pointing to arrests of alliance leaders alongside the suspensions. The group urged the government to abandon its rigid stance and engage in dialogue with protesting employees to avert further unrest.
This incident underscores deepening divides in Balochistan, where resource-rich lands contrast sharply with underdevelopment and marginalization claims. As protests persist, the government’s heavy-handed response risks fueling more resistance, potentially destabilizing the province further.