January 3, 2006	Tuesday	Zilhaj 2, 1426

KARACHI, Jan 2: The rector of the Binoria University has criticized issuance of another notice to the university, seeking expulsion of foreign students studying at the campus.

Mufti Mohammad Naeem termed it a coward act of the home department, saying that the home secretary was trying to overdo his job.

He said on Jan 1 the Taneem Wafaqul Madaris in its convention in Islamabad had made it clear that the foreign students could not forcibly be expelled from religious schools. Moreover, the Tanzeem has also demanded that instead of deportation, the government should issue visas to new students coming to the country, he recalled.

Mufti Naeem said like Sindh, rest of the three provinces are also part of this present government, but such intimidating notices are not being issued in rest of the three provinces.

Only the Sindh home department was acting unilaterally against the religious schools, he added.

Mufti Naeem recalled that the interior ministry and provincial authorities have already announced that there is no such deadline regarding foreign students.

He said that exemption of Jamia Saifia seems irrational and shows government’s biased policy while dealing with college, universities and religious schools.

Earlier, the Sindh Home Department had issued orders notifying decision on deportation of foreign students enrolled at the madressahs, and the students of Jamia Saifia and those belonging to Mauritius were exempted from deportation.

The orders were issued to the Provincial Police Officer, Capital Police Officer and Regional Police officer which were passed on to all the SHO’s for information and compliance when ordered, sources in police department said.

According to a spokesman for the Binoria University, officials of the intelligence agency served the notice issued by the home department on Monday.