Police baton-charge, arrest 38 teachers during protest march in Karachi

By Our Correspondent 

KARACHI — Police detained 38 teachers on Wednesday after using tear gas and baton charges to stop a protest march towards the Chief Minister’s House in Karachi.

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Hundreds of teachers, organised by the All Sindh Primary Teachers Association, had gathered outside the Karachi Press Club (KPC) before marching towards the CM House to demand improvements in their service structure and changes to the transfer and posting system.

The protesters raised slogans and attempted to move towards the government building. Police stopped them near Fawara Chowk, using tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd. Roads around the press club were also closed to traffic, according to a traffic police spokesperson.

South Deputy Inspector General of Police Syed Asad Raza said the administration had tried to resolve the matter through negotiations before the protest. Education department officials were also involved in efforts to hold talks with the teachers.

He said the protest leaders had been informed that they would not be allowed to enter the Red Zone, which includes the areas around the Governor House and Chief Minister’s House.

Raza alleged that the situation escalated at around 3:15pm when protesters abandoned negotiations and attempted to move towards the CM House. He claimed that some demonstrators crossed police barricades and threw stones at officers, injuring one policeman.

According to the DIG, police used tear gas to disperse the crowd after the protesters crossed Kabir Masjid on Governor House Road.

He said 38 people were detained, including association president Ghulam Rasool Mahar and general secretary Aijaz Ali Chandio.

However, association vice president Rafiq Nizamani said the teachers had been protesting against what they described as an unfair service policy introduced by the Sindh government in 2021.

He claimed the policy had left teachers without promotion opportunities while employees in other sectors continued to receive promotions. The government had assured them that their concerns would be addressed, but the promises had not been fulfilled, he added.

Nizamani said the teachers were also demanding that district-level officials be given authority over the recruitment, transfers and postings of primary school teachers.

He confirmed that education department officials had approached the association for talks but said the teachers were reluctant to accept another round of negotiations because of what they described as previous unfulfilled assurances.

He alleged that police used tear gas and baton charges against the protesters and said two teachers were injured.

The association has decided to establish a protest camp outside the Karachi Press Club until its demands are addressed.