KARACHI, May 27: Attendance of academic and non-academic staff, as well as students, at almost all educational institutions in the city remained thin on Saturday due to the strike for which a call had been given by the Ahl-i-Sunnat Rahber Council.

The Board of Intermediate Education Karachi had already announced postponement of the HSC annual examination paper scheduled for Saturday whereas the University of Karachi put off the semester examinations paper due on the day at various departments.

Non-availability of public transport and apprehensions about law and order prevented children from going to their schools.

An official of the city government’s education department said that private schools, with some exceptions, were already off for teaching purposes as they had completed their annual examination process.

However, the government schools, where the process was under way, were opened, he added. It was learnt that students’ turn over at public sector schools was negligible and most teachers could not also make it due to the strike.

Attendance of staff at the three government educational boards remained almost nil. The Sindh Board of Technical Education did not conduct TSC examination in the province as it had already notified the postponement of the May 27 papers.

Point buses of the NED university did ply but with 30-35 per cent students as against the usual number. Attendance of teaching and other staff was less than the normal strength, said an NED official, adding that classes were held for some courses for which students in a reasonable number could turn up.

Campuses of the Dow University of Health Science wore a deserted look on Saturday due to the absence of students, teachers and non-teaching staff. Senior officials were, however, available at the Dow and Sindh medical colleges. The point buses were not operated, said a source in the DMC.

Since the University of Karachi had announced postponement of examination on May 27, a little number of the teaching and non-teaching staff turned up. However, the research students were seen studying at some departments.