KARACHI: Police on Monday baton-charged and detained around three-dozen teachers as they attempted to march on the Chief Minister House from the Karachi Press Club in protest over their non-regularisation of their jobs.

SSP-South Asad Raza said that the senior police and district administration officials held talks with the protesting teachers at the KPC. They were informed that a summary for regularisation of their jobs had been moved to the chief minister and they should wait for the government decision in this regard.

He said that the protesters were also informed about a ban on staging rallies / gatherings in the red zone. However, despite this, the protesting teachers removed barricades and started running towards the CM House.

He said police intercepted them near Jinnah Courts on Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road, resorted to baton charge and took into custody 35 teachers. He said that six female teachers were also detained, but they were released immediately.

Both tracks of Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road leading towards the CM House were closed for vehicular traffic, which was diverted on alternative routes.

Later, the protesting teachers resumed their protest at the KPC.

Talking to the media, the teachers said they passed required tests and were appointed on a contract basis in 2018 but despite the passage of three years, their services were not being regularised, prompting them to initiate a protest movement.

They claimed that they were holding a peaceful protest but the police subjected them to torture and detained their colleagues including females.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the South police said that all protesting teachers were released after they undertook not to venture into the red zone again.

He said that the police condemned the manhandling of a female teacher by a policewoman. “The policewoman has been suspended and action is being taken against her,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2022