KP Assembly raises concerns over minority quota in teaching jobs

Lawmakers in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly have highlighted gaps in the implementation of the five per cent job quota for non-Muslims, stating that several teaching positions remain vacant in parts of the province due to the unavailability of eligible candidates.

The issue was raised by MPA Ubaid ur Rehman during a session chaired by Mohammad Idrees. He pointed out that government schools in northern districts such as Lower Dir are facing teacher shortages because positions reserved for minorities cannot be filled.

Rehman said students are bearing the brunt of the situation, as local Muslim candidates cannot be appointed to posts reserved for non-Muslims. He added that a similar issue was addressed in 2022, when vacant positions in areas without minority candidates were temporarily filled by local applicants, which proved to be an effective solution.

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He warned that the continued vacancy of these posts is affecting the education system and undermining the constitutional guarantee under Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan, which ensures free and compulsory education for children.

Several lawmakers, including PTI MPA Anwar Khan, supported the call for revisiting the policy. They urged the government to amend the law to allow flexibility in districts where minority populations are absent.

Responding to the concerns, Provincial Education Minister Arshad Ayub said the current policy allows recruitment of non-Muslims from adjacent districts or within the same division if local candidates are unavailable. However, he acknowledged that the law does not address situations where no candidates are available at the divisional level.

The matter was referred to the relevant house committee for detailed discussion and recommendations.

Separately, MPA Asif Khan Mehsud raised concerns over deforestation in South Waziristan, calling for a committee to investigate the issue. The session was later adjourned due to lack of quorum.