0:10
the struggle of Punjab teachers
0:13
amjad was a retired teacher who had
0:15
devoted 35 years of his life to
0:17
educating the children of Punjab
0:20
he had taught in various schools across
0:22
the province from Lahore to Multan from
0:24
faisalabad to bahawalpur
0:27
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
0:35
he was proud of his profession and his
0:37
pension which he had earned after years
0:39
of hard work and dedication he had
0:42
followed the Punjab civil service's
0:43
pension rules which stipulated the
0:45
conditions and amount of his pension and
0:47
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
0:59
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
1:18
fluctuations and risks which could
1:21
affect its sustainability and
1:23
amjad was shocked and dismayed by this
1:26
policy which he felt was unfair and
1:29
unjust to the retired teachers who had
1:31
served the nation with loyalty and
1:32
honesty he decided to join a protest
1:35
organized by the Punjab Teachers
1:37
Association PTA which demanded the
1:40
reversal of the policy and the
1:42
restoration of their pension rights he
1:44
joined hundreds of other teachers young
1:46
and old male and female who gathered
1:48
outside the Punjab Assembly Building
1:50
holding placards and Banners that read
1:52
we demand Justice for pensioners don't
1:56
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
2:04
sang songs that expressed their
2:05
Grievances and aspirations they also
2:08
appealed to the public and the media to
2:10
support their cause and raise awareness
2:12
about their plight the protest lasted
2:15
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
2:31
they also faced harassment and
2:32
intimidation from some police officers
2:34
and political workers who tried to
2:36
disperse them or provoke them into
2:38
violence but they remained peaceful and
2:41
determined hoping that their voice would
2:43
be heard and their demands would be met
2:45
they also received solidarity and
2:48
sympathy from other civil society groups
2:50
such as lawyers doctors journalists
2:53
students workers Farmers Etc who joined
2:57
them in their protest or sent them
3:00
amjad was one of the leaders of the
3:02
protest who spoke to the media and the
3:05
public about their issues and demands he
3:08
also motivated and encouraged his fellow
3:10
teachers to stay strong and United in
3:12
their struggle he said we are not asking
3:15
for any favors or privileges we are only
3:18
asking for what is rightfully ours we
3:21
have served this country with dignity
3:22
and honor for decades we have educated
3:25
generations of citizens who have
3:27
contributed to its development and
3:29
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
3:38
and humiliation he also said we are not
3:41
against any government or any party we
3:44
are only against any policy that
3:45
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
4:01
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
4:08
colleagues our families our friends our
4:10
students our society and our conscience
4:12
we have faith in our cause and our
4:14
values we have hope in our future and
4:17
our destiny we will not give up until we
4:20
he ended his speech with a slogan that
4:22
echoed throughout the crowd long-lived
4:25
teachers long-lived pensioners Long Live
