TOBA TEK SINGH, Nov 2: The Pakistan Minorities Democratic Movement (PMDM) has condemned the decision of religious affairs ministry for imposing a ban on scholarship for minorities’ students enrolled in private schools.

In a press release issued here on Friday, the PMDM stated that the decision was a conspiracy against thousands of private schools’ students run by the minorities on charity basis.

It said the ministry had been granting scholarships to the poor students of minorities ever since former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali assumed his office in 2002.

The release further said that thousands of students received grants in recent years but the ministry had given an advertisement in March 2007 asking minorities’ students of private and government schools to apply for scholarships.

When students and their parents contacted the ministry, officer in charge Fahid informed them that the government had changed its policy not to grant scholarships because of complaints against private schools for misusing the scholarship funds.

Instead of taking action against the corrupt people, the government had deprived thousands of the needy and deserving students of minorities of their right to get education in private schools, it added.

The release warned a countrywide protest if the government did not withdraw the decision.