Police use baton, tear gas to disperse protesting teachers in Karachi

KARACHI: Riot police commenced baton charge and heavy tear gas shelling to disperse protesting educators outside Karachi Press Club (KPC), ARY News reported on Thursday.

Karachi Police personnel, in a sudden move, charged protesting teachers with batons and tear gas shell after demonstrators announced to advance towards Sindh’s Chief Minister House.

The peaceful protest turned into a battlefield after riot police fired tear gas shells and charged baton on the teachers when they attempted to enter into Red Zone.

The protest was organised by teachers belonging to different educational institutions, demanding promotions and group insurance as the Sindh government received its part of National Finance Commission (NFC) award.

Dozens were arrested as protestors clashed with police officials while many affectees of tear gas shifted to nearby hospital.

More than 40 detained teachers were transferred to different police stations of Karachi’s South Zone.

Protestors raised slogans for fulfillment of their demands and engaged in clashes with police officials deployed to disperse them from the location. However, the protestors refused to end their protests and started gathering again.

Heavy contingents of police are deployed on different routes of Karachi Press Club.

Leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh condemned police charge on protesting educators in Karachi.

Haleem Adil Sheikh expressed sorrow over police’s baton charge and tear gas shelling on protesting teachers. He said that anyone, who raised voice for his rights, would be victimised by torture in Sindh.

“Sindh government is giving them [protestors] lesson instead of resolving their issues. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari should provide justice to these people instead of organising train march,” he added.

Sheikh advised police not be turned into ‘Murad Force’. He demanded Inspector General Police (IGP) Sindh to take notice against officials involved in torturing protesting teachers in Karachi.

Hunaid Lakhani, another PTI Sindh leader, condemned police charge on educators holding protest outside Karachi Press Club (KPC).