The ongoing protest of the teachers demanding regularisation of their services took a turn for the worse on Wednesday after a score of them started marching on the Sindh Assembly.
The teachers have been protesting outside the Karachi Press Club for two weeks, and making almost daily attempts to march on the provincial assembly without success. On Wednesday, however, they managed to advance.
Police had set up barricades, but the protesters broke through them, resulting in the law enforcers using tear gas shells and batons, as well as calling for water cannons. The teachers then sat down at some distance from the PA to continue their protest. They warned that they would not end their sit-in until they receive their regularisation letters.
This protest is being held since around two weeks, with constant cat-and-mouse confrontations between the police and the protesters. After the teachers succeeded in advancing, police tried to stop them by using force and detaining some of them.
The situation escalated further after teachers from different areas of Karachi were called in. The protesters said they had succeeded in entering the red zone after two weeks, and would continue their sit-in until their demands are met.
These teachers have already lost their case in court. However, they have been demanding that the provincial government prioritise giving them jobs based on the new job announcements made in this year’s budget. District South SSP Sajid Saduzai told The News that the teachers dispersed after talks were held with the education secretary. He said police did not arrest any of the protesters.