THIS refers to news report ‘Former SMI students seek VC’s removal’ (Aug 1). It is good that your reporter contacted the vice-chancellor to get her version on two points reported in her story.

It is, however, regretted that she did not seek Sindh Madressatul Islam University’s (SMIU) version regarding some other points, which she included in the story.

One such point is her reporting a former student of intermediate class saying that the place where the Quaid -i-Azam attended classes has been converted into bathrooms. I have never read such a strange statement in my life.

To set the record straight, it is clarified that Sindh Madressatul Islam worked in a rented place in front of Bolton Market when the Quaid-i-Azam got admission in SMI in July 1887.

Afterwards, when the construction of the main building was completed in 1890, the school was shifted there. He received his education from 1890 to January 1892 in the main building.

We have preserved the main building with greatest care because of its association with the Founder of Pakistan.

Your reporter herself has been visiting the main building to cover various programmes of SMIU and knows that it is the most well-kept building in the entire SMIU.

I wish she could have asked for my response before magnifying gaffe of a child through a newspaper like Dawn.

Secondly, an impression has been created by the report that the SMI School has been closed down.

This is far from the truth. SMIU is running two model schools for boys and girls within its premises, imparting education from Classes I to X.

They are giving very good results in the examinations conducted by the Board of Secondary Education, Karachi.

However, the intermediate section was discontinued two years ago due to its poor results, as well as due to duplication of the programme as the SM Science College, located within the premises of the institution, also offers the same intermediate programme.

PROF MUHAMMAD ALI SHAIKH
Vice-Chancellor
SMI University,
Karachi