QUETTA, Aug 5: Police on Monday arrested seven teachers, including president of Government Teachers Association, who went on fast unto death to press their demand for reinstatement of sacked teachers.

Police removed the protest camp set up in the education directorate and Balochistan reserve police was deployed around the directorate.

The teachers arrested when they started hunger strike unto death include, Balochistan GTA President Abdul Ghafar Kadezai, Sardar Fazal Sarghar, Hafiz Ghulam Mohammad Khosa, Mohammad Khan Ronjha, Mohammad Qasim Khan and Mohammad Saleem.

The arrested teachers refused to eat anything and announced that they would continue their hunger strike in the police station.

The association was struggling for the reinstatement of teachers removed from service for taking part in a month-long strike in April. The strike was declared illegal by the government.

The provincial government reinstated most of the sacked teachers after reviewing their cases and taking written assurance from them that they would not participate in such activities.

Over 100 teachers have not been reinstated. According to sources the cases of the remaining sacked teachers was under consideration.

Balochistan Labour Federation President Khan Zaman denounced the arrest of the teachers and ransacking of the hunger strike camp.

He demanded release of the arrested teachers and reinstatement of sacked teachers and other government employees.