School teacher tries to torch himself and daughters

ASADABAD (SW): A public school teacher has attempted to burn himself and three of his daughters alive in the eastern Kunar province over alleged forced expulsion from duty.

The locals stopped this teacher named Abdul Aziz who is a resident of the Wata Pur district. He told Salam Watandar that the local officials in his district forcefully expelled him from duty over personal grudges.

He added that his daughters have also been expelled from school and the officials make fun of him.

Aziz said he is willing to cooperate with an investigation team that can probe allegations against him.

The local civil society activist seconded Aziz’s claims about wide spread corruption in the education department. Abdul Wahid, a local activist told Salam Watandar that the education department should take Aziz’s matter seriously as it could have turned into a tragedy had he succeeded in setting himself and his daughters ablaze.

Mohammad Safi, member of the provincial council noted that the level of corruption in public sector has reached to an alarming level.

Meanwhile, Jamaluddin Husni, director for education in the province has denied these charges. He said that Aziz has been expelled from duty in line with the norms and regulation but the education department is still ready to listen to him.

ENDS