0:10
the struggle of Punjab teachers
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amjad was a retired teacher who had
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devoted 35 years of his life to
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educating the children of Punjab
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he had taught in various schools across
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the province from Lahore to Multan from
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faisalabad to bahawalpur
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he had seen many changes in the
0:29
education system some good and some bad
0:31
but he always tried to do her best for
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he was proud of his profession and his
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pension which he had earned after years
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of hard work and dedication he had
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followed the Punjab civil service's
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pension rules which stipulated the
0:45
conditions and amount of his pension and
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gratuity he had also submitted his life
0:50
certificate form every year to her bank
0:52
branch as required by the Punjab pension
0:55
fund which managed the investment of his
0:57
pension amount but things changed when
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the present interim government announced
1:01
a new policy of rationalizing the
1:03
pension expenditure and making it off
1:06
budget the policy meant that the
1:08
pensioners would not get any increase in
1:10
their pension which was already meager
1:12
compared to the rising inflation and
1:14
cost of living it also meant that the
1:16
pension fund would be subject to Market
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fluctuations and risks which could
1:21
affect its sustainability and
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amjad was shocked and dismayed by this
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policy which he felt was unfair and
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unjust to the retired teachers who had
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served the nation with loyalty and
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honesty he decided to join a protest
1:35
organized by the Punjab Teachers
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Association PTA which demanded the
1:40
reversal of the policy and the
1:42
restoration of their pension rights he
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joined hundreds of other teachers young
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and old male and female who gathered
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outside the Punjab Assembly Building
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holding placards and Banners that read
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we demand Justice for pensioners don't
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snatch our pension pension is our right
1:58
not charity respect our service not our
2:01
age and so on they chanted slogans and
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sang songs that expressed their
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Grievances and aspirations they also
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appealed to the public and the media to
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support their cause and raise awareness
2:12
about their plight the protest lasted
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for several days but there was no
2:17
response from the government or the
2:19
authorities the teachers faced many
2:21
difficulties and hardships during their
2:23
protest such as lack of food Water
2:26
Shelter sanitation security and medical
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they also faced harassment and
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intimidation from some police officers
2:34
and political workers who tried to
2:36
disperse them or provoke them into
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violence but they remained peaceful and
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determined hoping that their voice would
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be heard and their demands would be met
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they also received solidarity and
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sympathy from other civil society groups
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such as lawyers doctors journalists
2:53
students workers Farmers Etc who joined
2:57
them in their protest or sent them
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amjad was one of the leaders of the
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protest who spoke to the media and the
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public about their issues and demands he
3:08
also motivated and encouraged his fellow
3:10
teachers to stay strong and United in
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their struggle he said we are not asking
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for any favors or privileges we are only
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asking for what is rightfully ours we
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have served this country with dignity
3:22
and honor for decades we have educated
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generations of citizens who have
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contributed to its development and
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progress we have sacrificed our time
3:31
energy Health and Family for our
3:33
profession we deserve respect and
3:36
recognition for our service not neglect
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and humiliation he also said we are not
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against any government or any party we
3:44
are only against any policy that
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violates our rights and interests we are
3:48
ready to talk to anyone who is willing
3:50
to listen to us and address our concerns
3:52
we are also ready to cooperate with any
3:55
initiative that aims to improve the
3:56
education system and the welfare of
3:58
teachers but we will not accept any
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Injustice or discrimination against us
4:03
he also said we are not alone in this
4:06
struggle we have the support of our
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colleagues our families our friends our
4:10
students our society and our conscience
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we have faith in our cause and our
4:14
values we have hope in our future and
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our destiny we will not give up until we
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he ended his speech with a slogan that
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echoed throughout the crowd long-lived
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teachers long-lived pensioners Long Live