KARACHI, May 2: Teaching almost remained suspended at schools and colleges in the city on Thursday which was observed as a day of mourning and a strike by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

Educational offices in the public sector also could not operate adequately as the staff was not available. Some of the private educational institutions, however, were kept open despite meagre attendance, particularly in Saddar, Clifton and Korangi towns.

Sources said government schools and colleges as well as universities remained inoperative as neither the students nor the teachers turned up for the academic activities. The early morning suspension of transport and a couple of incidents of violence compelled the students and teachers to stay indoors in many parts of the city, added the source.

The district education offices and educational boards also presented a deserted look in the absence of staff who have to report for duties from far flung areas. However, an official at the educational board said that though it was not a normal day, some work pertaining to examinations was advanced further.

At the two public universities too situation was not very much normal as teaching staff and students were not found adequate for the normal courses there. An examination department staff at the University of Karachi said no examination was scheduled for Thursday.

Meanwhile, the NED University of Engineering and Technology has announced to reconduct its examinations for the students of the university and Government College of Technology SITE, which could not be held as per schedule on Thursday.

An official of the university’s examination department said that three of the examinations, including one for the GCT students, could not be held due to strike. Students as well as the examination staff did not turn up for the examinations due to non-availability of transport, the official added.

Two of the examinations could not be held at the varsity’s new campus, while the other one was scheduled to be held at the GCT campus in SITE. However, examination of BE (Civil) in the subject of Transportation Engineering was held as per schedule at the new campus of the university, the official said.

According to NED notification, new dates for Advanced Electrical Machines paper of BE Final year (Electrical engineering) supplementary examination 1997-98 batch, Professional practice paper of the Final year (Architecture) supplementary examination 1994-95 batch and Technical Projects-I of Group1, 2 and 3 of the First semester (Mechanical Technology) 1992-2000 batch would be given later on.