Police picked up a number of teachers from the premises of the DJ Science College here on Thursday apparently to prevent the Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association (SPLA) from holding a routine general body meeting at the institution.
This was stated by the central president of SPLA, Syed Riaz Ahsen, while talking to APP here.
He said that he had no idea as to how many teachers were picked up by the police but said that the figure might be up to 200.
However, these teachers were later set free from the police stations after detention for a couple of hours.
Those picked up by the police included 25 female teachers from the St. Joseph's College for Women Karachi.
The in charge of the Women's Police Station at the Civil Lines, Ms Ghazala, told APP that the 25 females teachers, who were picked up from the DJ College, were set free after a couple of hours.
When asked under what section these teachers were picked up and whether any charges were framed against them, she said that the only purpose was to prevent them from holding the meeting.
Ms Ghazala said: "We brought these teachers at the Women's Police Station and after a couple of hours released them at the same point and that no case was registered against anyone.
As many as 40 male teachers, who were taken to Nabi Bux Police Station were also set free after some hours.
The SPLA chief, however, maintained this has created an ugly situation. He said that a routine general body meeting of SPLA was scheduled for Thursday at the D.J. College.
Riaz stated that "at 10 am our delegates were coming, who included those from other cities in the province. The police started arresting them at the gate of the institution. He said that he had no idea as to why the police were taking such an action.
The SPLA chief said that Sindh Education Secretary Nadir Ali Markhiani was also scheduled to come to brief the teachers about the measures being taken by the department to solve the problems of the teachers in the province.
He stated that after these arrests, "we had gathered at the Karachi Press Club and then returned to the D.J. College where the Sindh education secretary had also arrived.
Riaz said: "Our demand number one was that all those who have been arrested should first be released. He said, "we have been told that they have been released and started coming to the D.J. College."
Sindh secretary education, who was present on the occasion, said that he had already told the SPLA that he would come to their meeting.
However, he said that when he came to know about this incident he contacted the police higher-ups and then came here.
Markhiani was optimistic that after holding negotiations with the SPLA office-bearers the teachers' problems would be resolved.
He said: "We have made clear our stand to the SPLA leadership and the issues would be resolved."
He said that those teachers, who were picked up by the police in the morning, were later released.