Teachers protesting over the non-payment of their salaries faced baton charges and water cannon as they gathered outside the Karachi Press Club on 13 September. Over 7,500 teachers hired in 2012 had not been paid for their first 16 months of service. Following protests in March and July 2017, the Sindh government had promised to pay the long overdue wages before the September Eid holidays, and the teachers wanted to press for that promise to be honoured.
The teachers had intended to march towards the Chief Minister’s House. However, the police, equipped with riot gear, intercepted them. The police used water cannon and baton-charged the protesters when they failed to talk them out of marching. Scenes of teachers being hit with batons and thrown by the high-velocity stream of water from cannons were broadcast on TV channels. Participants claimed two teachers were injured and three others arrested during the protest.
A further protest was held on 19 September, and police again used water cannon and batons. Twenty teachers were arrested.