Police disperse teachers protest outside Sindh Assembly

F.P. Report

KARACHI: Police resorted to baton charge to disperse a crowd of teachers protesting outside the Sindh Assembly over the non-payment of their salaries.

Three female teachers were taken into custody as police clashed with the teachers for over seven hours and even called water cannon to disperse them.

Many teachers voluntarily turned themselves to police to protest against the arrest of female teachers. The protesters started from the Karachi Press Club and eventually moved towards the provincial assembly before they were stopped by police.

The teachers demanded that the Sindh government should pay all outstanding dues. They also called for negotiation with Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani.

During the protest, the Education Secretary sent a delegation to negotiate with the protesting teachers but they refused and marched towards the Sindh Assembly. Police called for reinforcements after which the teachers were roughed up and taken into custody.

It may be mentioned that the teachers were provided jobs during the tenure of former Sindh information minister Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq, and had not received their salaries since the past two-and-half years.

However, Education Minister Jam Mehtab said that the allotments of teachers were illegal, and therefore there cannot be any negotiations nor can their dues be paid.

He said that teachers will not be regularised or provide jobs by protesting and blocking roads. He said that there are mandatory tests now being conducted after more than 23,000 illegal appointments were made since 2012.