01 March 2005	Tuesday	19 Muharram 1426

KARACHI, Feb 28: Female educationists and senior teachers at a seminar on Monday termed the establishment of Aga Khan University Education Board (AKUEB) as a conspiracy against the ideology of Pakistan and a step to promote class-based education in the country.

The seminar "AKUEB: An overview" was organized by a local NGO Women Educational Forum and was addressed by female educationists including Prof Jahan Ara Lutfi of Shaikh Zayed Islamic Center, President Tanzeem-i-Asataza Sindh Dr Farida Yasmin, Principal Imperial College Karachi Ms Nuzhat Raees and a private school principal, Mrs Amina Murad.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Jahan Ara Lutfi feared that establishment of the AKUEB would have far fetching affects on the youth, as aims and objectives of this board were not hidden from anyone in Pakistan.

"Establishment of this board is in fact a conspiracy to shake ideological foundations of Pakistan and to keep younger generation away from Islamic teachings, norms and traditions" she claimed adding that it would confine quality education to a limited segment of the society.

Dr Farida Yasmin in her address criticized former military dictators including General Yahya Khan, Ziaul Haq and said they started giving incentives to the Aga Khan community that helped in spreading its influence in the fields of education and health.

"Government claim that education will remain cheap but that can be judged from the Aga Khan Hospital where common man cannot even think of entering for treatment" she said adding that instead of allowing minorities to take over the education and health sectors, government should introduce reforms in these sectors.

Mrs Nuzhat Raees in her speech termed AKUEB's establishment as an attack on Pakistan, saying earlier, Christian missionaries introduced missionary educational institutions and now this community was trying to promote "alien system of education" in Pakistan. She criticized the government for not allowing anybody to challenge AKUEB's establishment in courts and said such protection to that board was given on US directives.

Mrs Amina Murad said Pakistan's educational system could not be improved simply by allowing establishment of the AKUEB and urged the authorities for taking steps to reform the existing educational infrastructure of the country. -PPI