20 teachers arrested after demonstration near Sindh Assembly

They were protesting against non-payment of salaries since their appointments in 2012

KARACHI: At least 15 female and five male teachers were arrested by the police on Thursday after a teachers' rally was subjected to a baton charge near the Sindh Assembly building. The teachers had taken to the streets to protest against the Sindh government for non-payment of salaries since their appointment in 2012.

"We want our salaries," was the slogan chanted by the angry protesters who held the Sindh government responsible for their misery, as they had been appointed by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government in 2012. The protesters also set the PPP flag on fire and chanted 'go Bilawal go' and 'go Zardari go' during the demonstration.

The protest largely comprised female teachers. However, male teachers from various districts of Sindh were also present in the procession that assembled outside the Karachi Press Club and marched towards the Sindh Assembly where the assembly session was in progress.



The march was intercepted by the police at the Arts Council intersection before it could reach the Sindh Assembly. The police charged the protesters with baton and detained 20 of them.

At least 15 female teachers and five male teachers were arrested during the protest. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN

 

Education minister's response

Responding to the protest, Education Minister Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar alleged that the appointments made in 2012 were unlawful. He was speaking at a book fair at NED University of Engineering and Technology.

Dahar's comments did not favour his party as the appointments were made in 2012 when Pir Mazharul Haq was the education minister during the PPP-led government.



Many teachers got themselves appointed after paying bribes, Dahar alleged, adding that those who knew nothing about Arabic language were appointed against posts of Arabic teachers.

Many appointments were made where there was no vacancy, the education minister claimed. Only in Karachi, 11,000 of such unlawful appointments were made, he added.