BHC bans strikes, protests by govt officials

QUETTA: The Balochistan High Court (BHC) on Monday ordered a ban on strikes and protests by all government employees, including doctors and teachers.
The order was passed by a two-member bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice Muhammad Noor Maskanzai and Justice Muhammad Hashim Kakar while hearing a constitutional petition filed by the All Government Teachers’ Association.
The court ordered that no government employee, especially teachers and doctors, could observe a strike or protest, and legal action would be taken by the department concerned against those who violated this order. The head of the institution will also face legal action if any violation of the order is committed, the court said.
The court said that the strikes of teachers and doctors directly affect the masses and people have to face difficulties during strikes because of the blocking of roads. It said that no strike or protest should be observed in private schools and hospitals.
The petitioner had approached the court over the defying of court orders on the implementation of allowances and other demands of teachers.
The notices were issued to teachers and other government employees’ organisations, including the All Pakistan Clerks Association, All Government Teachers Association, Secretariat Staff Association, Pakistan Medical Association, Pakistan Paramedical Association and other teachers’ organisations.
Additional Advocate General Shehak Baloch, senior lawyer Hadi Shakeel and Mazhar Ilyas Nagi played the role of amicus curiae and the court lauded their role when the court asked those parties to present a justification for their protests and strikes.
The court said that if any employee faced any problem then he should adopt a legal way and approach the courts.