Hundreds of Pakistani teachers gathered in Peshawar on Tuesday to protest UNHCR staff layoffs that they say ended decades of work with no notice and no financial relief. As many as 291 teachers who educated Afghan children in refugee camps under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN’s refugee agency, were dismissed on 31 October.
Who was affected
The teachers—100 men and 191 women—say they served for 35 to 40 years in schools set up in Afghan refugee camps. They come from Peshawar, Mardan, Timergara, Nowshera, Swabi, Haripur, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Hangu, Tall, Chakdara and Jalala Shergarh. They have demanded compensation and financial support after what they call abrupt dismissals.
Organisers said the sudden end of employment has pushed hundreds of households into hardship, with many struggling to cover basic living costs. They also said they had already been denied medical allowances, other financial benefits and gratuity despite long service.
What protest leaders said
The sit-in was led by Tufail Ahmed and Farhana Durrani, who heads the women teachers. Mr Ahmed said nearly four decades of work educating Afghan children ended through a single administrative decision, with no notice or relief. “We served the institution for four decades, but were sent home at the stroke of a pen without any compensation or relief,” he told the gathering.
Ms Durrani said she had taught Afghan children for 35 years. “After 35 years of dedicated service, the UNHCR sent us home through a single phone call, without providing any financial relief,” she said. Young and elderly women teachers joined the sit-in, calling for recognition of their service and assistance after dismissal.
Appeal for dialogue and relief
Protesters said they had repeatedly visited the UNHCR office with their grievances but found no official willing to hear them or open talks. They alleged the office shut its doors, posted police outside, and that they were warned of a possible baton charge. They appealed to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to intervene and help secure relief for the teachers and their families. There was no public response from the agency recorded at the protest.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 31 October: 291 teachers who worked under UNHCR in Afghan refugee-camp schools are dismissed without prior notice or financial relief, according to the affected staff.
- Tuesday (Peshawar): Teachers hold a sit-in against the UNHCR staff layoffs, demand compensation, and ask Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to intervene.
Aasan alfaaz mein
UNHCR ne 291 Pakistani ustadon ko 31 October ko nokal diya. Yeh ustad Afghan refugee camps mein 35–40 saal se bachon ko parhate thay. Unhein pehle se notice aur koi financial relief nahi mila. Ab woh Peshawar mein ehtijaj kar rahe hain aur apne gharanon ke liye madad maang rahe hain.
