Following the orders of Sindh government police on Wednesday charged the protesting teachers with batons and used water cannons to diffuse the protest in Karachi.
Near DJ College, members of teacher’s organization staged a demonstration demanding the government to raise their salaries. Demands of teachers were carrying the sense; they were demanding a change in their service structure, for it to be in line with those of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They were also demanded for an end to corruption in the education department.
The police used water cannons at first in order to disperse the educationists, however upon resistance demonstrated by protesters the cops tear-gassed and charged the architects of society with batons. The sheer act of brutality caused three teachers badly wounded including a woman, reported a news channel.
PPP government dealt with the protesters in a harsh manner. This cruel act of government gives wrong message to the masses. In Islamabad religious groups were involved in creating chaos were treated with the gentleness but teachers were treated with disgrace in a peaceful protest in Sindh. The impression is clear. If you are able to gather few thousands in guise of protest and damage properties, you will be allowed to do so. But if you are part of a working class struggle to demand rights that may improve your work environment and job security, then you will be harassed, beaten and arrested.
PPP which is considered a liberal party should have dealt with the protesters in a dignified manner. PPP is planning to celebrate death anniversary of it’s founder but perhaps they have forgotten the middle-class friendly manifesto of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
Humiliating peaceful protesting teachers is indeed a shameful act.
