HYDERABAD, Aug 27: The Sindh Democratic Forum has expressed concern over the stand -off between the government and the Sindh Employees Alliance.

At a meeting held here on Saturday, SDF leaders condemned the baton charge on teachers in Karachi. Forum leader Abrar Qazi presided over the meeting.

The meeting reminded the authorities that teachers occupied a place of honour in all civilised societies and were held in high esteem the world over.

The meeting endorsed the right of protest and formation of unions as guaranteed under the constitution of Pakistan and UN charter of human rights.

The meeting said that teachers’ unions at all levels had turned into mafias that were controlled by a few self-seekers and unprincipled individuals who manipulated teachers movements for their selfish ends.

It observed that the mafias in collusion with the corrupt and inefficient officials of the education department have caused irreparable and long term damage to education right from primary to university level.

It said that it is to the everlasting shame of these mafias that Sindh lags behind all provinces of Pakistan in the education sector. It warned the Sindh government and the teachers alliance that people of Sindh will not allow them to play with the future of their children.