KARACHI, April 23: Sindh Education Minister Irfanullah Marwat expressed his inability with regard to providing protection to teaching and non-teaching staff at the education institutes as he said he was not taken into confidence during talks between the rival student groups.
He said this while talking to a delegation of the Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association (SPLA) on Wednesday, which called on him to inform him about teachers’ concerns regarding violence at various city educational institutions and about the prevailing uncertainty regarding intermediate examinations.
The SPLA delegation resented city administration’s attitude towards ‘rogue’ elements and playing the role of ‘silent observer’ during the clashes between students and urged the minister to intervene to restore peace at academic institutions.
The delegation also demanded of the minister to provide protection to the teaching, non-teaching staff and the students at educational institution.
They also apprised the minister of the issue of non-issuance of admit cards to students appearing in intermediate examination in the city due to the alleged negligence of the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) officials and demanded departmental action against officials concerned.
The SPLA repeated its demand regarding the postponement of intermediate exams for at least one week in order to restore peace at the institutions and for the completion of the process of admit cards distribution.
The minister said he could not direct educational boards for any action as the governor himself controlled all educational boards in the province, whereas board authorities also did not approach ministry of education for seeking its advice regarding the examinations.
Meanwhile, speaking to a delegation of students belonging to different educational institutions, who met him at his office, he said that he was trying to bring an end to the unrest prevailing for last several days in the educational institutions of Karachi, however, he blamed police for non-cooperation, a press release issued by the minister’s office said.
The delegation apprised the minister of law and order situation that prevailed in the educational institutions and demanded immediate steps to resolve it.
Mr Marwat expressed surprise that a police officer of DIG rank was ignoring a provincial minister and said,” If it’s with a minister, what would be his attitude towards a common man?”
It is unfortunate that even the minister had not been kept informed of the situation, Mr Marwat said, adding that the situation had been controlled if proper steps had been taken.
The minister categorically stated that the police officials would be held responsible if the law and order situation in the educational institutions deteriorated further.—PPI
