In Kasur District’s Pernawa area, Muslim teachers at a government high school on 5 October assaulted a Christian headmaster who reportedly refused to agree to their demands.
Muslim teachers at Pernawa Government High School first pressured headmaster Saddique Azam to resign, saying that they refused to accept a government-imposed choora, a derogatory term referring to impoverished Christian street sweepers, to supervise them. They then reportedly told Azam that the only way he could continue as head teacher was to become a puppet in their hands.
Tensions came to a head when, on 1 October, teacher Muhammad Javaid asked Azam to write a falsified letter excusing his two days of absence. When Azam refused, Javaid threatened him and stormed out, returning with five others on 5 October. The Muslim teachers then kicked and punched Azam, seriously injuring his left eye, for which he received hospital treatment. Azam reportedly continues to receive threats.
