ISLAMABAD: The employees of the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) and a group of outsiders clashed on Friday.

As a result an employee of the board received head injury and was shifted to hospital in a critical condition.

When the situation went from bad to worse, the Secretary Ministry of Education, Trainings and Standards in Higher Education (METS) intervened and sent the board’s chairperson on forced leave and nominated secretary FBISE as acting chairperson.

Moreover, he will request the prime minister’s office to appoint fulltime chairperson without further delay.

On the other hand, employees have withdrawn their call for strike and announced that the offices of the board would remain open on Saturday and Sunday to ensure delivery of roll number slips to students.

On Thursday, the employees of FBISE held protest and demanded immediate appointment of permanent chairperson as former chairperson Ms Shaheen Khan had completed her five-year term on September 18 2013. According to rules her term could not be extended any further.

Employees also announced that they would boycott the exams of Senior School Certificate (Matric) starting from March 18.

On Friday, employees locked all the offices early in the morning and started their protest but soon a group of outsiders reached there.

An official of FBISE on condition of anonymity said that the group was led by two members of the Board of Governors who represented private schools.

“They broke the locks of main gate and attacked the protesters using batons and iron rods.

“An official M Gulfaraz was severely injured and shifted to neurology department of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) in a critical condition. Doctors have done operation of his head injury,” he said.

“Around 15 persons received bruises. Moreover some members of the group which came from outside were also injured,” he said.

Meanwhile, Secretary METS Kahlid Hanif reached FBISE and announced that chairperson FBISE Ms Khan was being sent on forced leave.

He also announced to give acting charge of chairperson to Secretary FBISE Rao Attique. He requested the employees to ensure completion of examination process in time.

While talking to Dawn the secretary confirmed that Ms Khan had been sent on forced leave.

“Employees have assured me that exams of SSC will not be delayed and roll number slips will be distributed on time. I will send a request to PM Office for the early appointment of a permanent chairperson,” he said.

An official of FBISE said that a written application with the signatures of acting Chairperson Rao Attique has been filed in Industrial Area Police Station against the suspects.

President All Pakistan Schools and Colleges Association Malik Ibrar has appreciated the decision of the employees to call off strike.

“Just three days have been left but the private schools have not received roll number slips. We expect that the prime minister will appoint fulltime chairperson of the FBISE as early as possible,” he said.