ISLAMABAD: Dozens of schoolteachers on Wednesday staged a protest in front of the National Press Club seeking regularisation of their services.

The teachers also tried to march towards Parliament House, but Aabpara Police aborted their move and arrested a few teachers, who were released later on.

The protesters told mediapersons that 1,237 teachers were working in various schools, which fall under the administrative control of Directorate of Cantt and Garrison, as daily wage employees.

“We are being paid only Rs6,000 per month. Its sheer injustice,” said Basit Shaheen, a teacher. He said the police manhandled the protesting teachers when they tried to move towards Parliament House. “The police picked up 14 teachers including myself and four female teachers from China Chowk. We were shifted to Aabpara Police Station. However, when the matter was highlighted in electronic media they released us,” he said.

A female teacher said,“I have been serving in FG Boys School Tariqabad, Rawalpindi for the last 13 years as daily wage employee, I’m getting only Rs7,500 per month. Today, police arrested a dozen of my colleagues, is raising a voice for right a crime?

Speaking to Dawn, Asjad Mahmood, SHO Abpara said few protesters were arrested because they were trying to move towards Red Zone but released shortly,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2015

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