KARACHI, Sept 1: The former governor of Sindh, Lt-Gen Moinuddin Haider, on the 120th foundation day ceremony of the Sindh Madressatul Islam on Wednesday said the Madressah is a national institution of Pakistan , which was founded for the betterment of Muslims of the region.

The ceremony was held at the college's auditorium on Wednesday. He paid homage to Hassanally Effendi, Justice Ameer Ali of Bengal and Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, saying these personalities were moving forces behind the establishment of the Sindh Madressah.

Speaking on the secular role of the SMI in its early days of establishment, Mr Haider said that besides Muslims, Christians, Zoroastrians, Sikhs and Hindus were also on the faculty of the Sindh Madressah.

Mr Haider said that teachers should be paid handsome salaries, which would ultimately benefit students. He also suggested that teachers should be recruited on the basis of merit.

He suggested that the S.M. Science College should be given under the control of the Madressah, because it had been a part of it before its nationalization in 1974 and was still situated on its premises. He also said that the rent of 60 shops, constructed on the land of the Sindh Madressah should be paid to it.

The former governor called upon the people to stand against anti-state elements and said: "If we do not stop them today, we will be considered a part of the country's destruction."

He viewed that due to the lack of commitment, institutions were being run unsuccessfully. Also on the occasion, Provincial minister Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh said the Sindh Madressatul Islam was a history of the subcontinent, saying it had produced personalities of international repute; those who played major roles in the creation of Pakistan.

Lauding the college management, he said: " The management of the Sindh Madressah has even today upheld its traditions - to impart quality education," calling upon the college to produce once again produce big personalities; those needed by the country.

He deplored the declining standared of education in the country, stressing it should be improved at all costs. The minister assured the Sindh Madressah of raising its issues in cabinet meetings and would try to get them solved. He also supported the idea of university status for the Sindh Madressah.

He also demanded that a road named after Mr. Stachen - an architect of the Karachi Municipality who had designed the Sindh Madressah and other historic buildings in Karachi - be renamed after him.

The Minister for Mines and Mineral Development, Irfanullah Marwat, and S.H. Hashmi also spoke. The latter supported upgrading the status of the Sindh Madressah to that of university level.

The Federal Secretary Education, Sajid Hassan, said the Sindh Madressah had seen many ups and downs in its life, but it was now on a smooth path. Expressing satisfaction over the 100 per cent result achieved by the institute, he hoped the Sindh Madressah would in the near future emerge as one of the highest educational institutions of the country.

The Prinicipal of the Sindh Madressatul Islam, Muhammad Ali Shaikh, traced the institution's history and read out the accounts published in the newspapers regarding the opening ceremony of the Sindh Madressah held on September 1, 1885, and later as a college in 1943 by the Quaid-i-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Speaking of the problems and rights of the Sindh Madressah, he said: "Since the nationalization of the Sindh Madressah in 1972, the rent of 60 shops constructed on its land goes to a private society."

He also demanded that the amount of one-third of the last residency of the Quaid-i- Azam, which he had bequeathed to his alma mater should be given to the institute. Another demand included that the S.M. Science College either be given in the control of the Sindh Madressah or should be shifted to some other place. Lt-Gen Ahsan Saleem Hayat, Corps Commander, Karachi, Kazi Asad Abid, Sallahuddin Hyder also attended. - PPI