FaqirabadSeptember 24, 2025): The wave of protests under the banner of the Sindh Employees Alliance (SEA) gained further momentum on Tuesday, when schoolteachers in Faqirabad staged a dramatic demonstration against the government’s controversial pension reforms. Responding to the SEA’s call for province-wide action, teachers locked the gates of government schools and suspended classes to register their dissent.

The most prominent demonstration took place at Government High School Faqirabad, where members of the Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association (SPLA) unit led the charge. Teachers, holding placards and raising slogans, declared that the government had crossed all limits by “attacking the fundamental rights of its employees.”

Teachers Condemn “Daylight Robbery” on Pensions

Addressing the protest, speakers said the government’s proposed pension cuts amounted to nothing less than a daylight robbery on the hard-earned rights of teachers and other state employees. They argued that the pension system was never a government favor but rather a rightful safety net earned through decades of service.

“Old pension laws were a shield that protected employees from financial insecurity after retirement,” said one protest leader. “By introducing a black law that snatches this shield away, the government is pushing its employees into poverty and humiliation.”

Voices from the Demonstration

Teachers lined up to voice their frustration before the media. Ustad Mushtaq Ali Shambani, a senior teacher, declared that the move was “not just an attack on teachers but on every government servant who has dedicated years of service to the state.”

Echoing his sentiments, Ustad Muhammad Rafiq Chandio said, “We gave our youth, our energy, and our entire lives to these institutions. To deprive us of pensions now is nothing short of betrayal. We will never allow this injustice to stand.”

Ustad Ahmed Junejo, another protesting teacher, demanded that the Sindh government immediately roll back what he called the “pension-hostile black law.” He warned that teachers across Sindh were ready to escalate their protests if their demands were ignored.

The Broader Struggle

The SEA has emerged as the unifying platform for various employee unions across Sindh, and its calls for collective action have resonated widely. From university campuses to schools in remote towns like Faqirabad, employees are increasingly locking horns with the government.

Observers note that the pension issue has struck a raw nerve because it affects not only current employees but also the future security of tens of thousands of families. With rising inflation, shrinking salaries, and economic instability, pensions are often the only lifeline for retired workers and their dependents.

Teachers’ Message to the Government

Teachers at the protest issued a stark warning to the Sindh government: if immediate action is not taken to restore the old pension law, the protests will escalate across the province.

“Education is the backbone of any society, and teachers are the builders of nations. If the government treats its builders as disposable, then what future are we securing for our children?” asked one visibly emotional teacher.

The teachers further clarified that their agitation is not politically motivated but purely an issue of survival. “This is not about politics; it is about our families, our dignity, and our future,” said another protester.

Deadline Set for Government

Protest leaders announced that the demonstrations would continue until September 27, 2025. If the government failed to announce the restoration of the old pension law by then, they vowed to extend their protests indefinitely and to take their movement to the next level.

Potential next steps could include province-wide strikes, rallies in district headquarters, and sit-ins outside government offices. Some leaders even hinted at the possibility of marching on Karachi to stage a sit-in at the Sindh Assembly if their demands continued to be ignored.

Growing Public Sympathy

Local residents and parents, though initially inconvenienced by the closure of schools, expressed sympathy for the teachers’ cause. Many parents told reporters that while their children’s studies were important, the teachers’ struggle for survival could not be ignored.

One parent remarked, “If teachers are not financially secure, how can they concentrate on educating our children? We support their demand for justice.”

Risk of Wider Disruptions

The suspension of classes in Faqirabad is being viewed as a symbolic warning that could soon translate into a much wider disruption of education across Sindh. Education experts fear that if protests intensify, it could paralyze the entire schooling system, affecting millions of students.

However, teachers placed the blame squarely on the government. “We don’t want to close schools. We don’t want to disrupt education. But when the government forces us into a corner, we are left with no option,” said one of the protest leaders.

Call for Unity Among Employees

The protesting teachers also appealed to employees from other government departments—health, municipal services, and administration—to join hands with them in the fight against pension cuts. “This is not just a teachers’ issue; it is an issue for every worker in Sindh. Today it is our pensions, tomorrow it could be your allowances or your job security,” one teacher told the crowd.

Looking Ahead

As the deadline of September 27 draws nearer, the standoff between the Sindh Employees Alliance and the provincial government is intensifying. Both sides appear firm in their positions: the government insisting on implementing reforms, and employees determined to resist what they view as economic exploitation.

What began in university campuses and spread to high schools is now threatening to snowball into a province-wide crisis. The people of Sindh are watching closely, knowing that the outcome of this struggle will shape not just the future of employees but also the fate of public services across the province.