KARACHI: Examination papers scheduled at colleges and universities for Thursday have been postponed due to the Safoora bus tragedy, though these institutions, along with schools, have been directed by the education minister to remain open.

The universities which have postponed their papers included Karachi University and the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology.

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In a statement, Education Minister Nisar Khuhro condemned the massacre of innocent people in the bus attack and said that educational institutions would remain open on Thursday so that a strong message was sent to the anti-Pakistan forces that the nation was united and ready to fight the war against terrorism.

Teachers representing various educational institutions, however, criticised the minister’s statement and said that though not a single teacher association had challenged the minister, it was expected that attendance at all educational institutions would be thin on Thursday and it would have been better if no government order was issued in this regard.

“The minister needed to understand that nobody wants to interrupt educational activities and go on a holiday. In fact, it’s the dangerous law and order situation prevailing in the city that forces parents not to send their children to schools,” said Sharaf-uz-Zaman, heading the Private Schools Management Association.

About 80pc teachers serving at schools, he said, were women, and many didn’t have their own transport to come for work.

“If colleges and universities are cancelling their papers, traders are closing their businesses and transport is expected to be thin, it’s anybody’s guess how many teachers and children would be able come to their institutions,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ateeq Mir of the Karachi Tajir Ittehad representing about 400 markets in the city said shops would be kept closed to mourn the huge loss of life in the Safoora massacre.

“We have asked traders to fly black flags atop their shops as a mark of mourning today,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2015

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