KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Friday issued notices to the federal and provincial governments as well as the Sindh Police and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) on a petition regarding inadequate security at several schools in Karachi.

The petition, filed by citizen Haji Gul, states that the government had issued orders to ramp up security at schools across the country following the deadly Dec 16 Taliban attack on a school that killed over 130 children.

However, the petitioner states that the security measures had so far not been taken in several schools in Karachi, especially those located in shanty towns.

Also read: All Sindh schools may not reopen on Jan 12

The petitioner further stated, in several parts of the city, government-owned land has been forcefully occupied by criminal gangs, against whom he said law enforcement agencies take no action.

Accepting the petition, the SHC has issued notices to respondents to file replies by January 20.

Following the carnage at the Army Public School in Peshawar last month, the government had extended winter vacations by 11 days for security reasons.

On Thursday, the Sindh government announced that only those schools should reopen for classes on Jan 12 where foolproof security arrangements have been made. It also decided to implement a ‘short-term security plan’ for all educational institutions in the metropolis.

Editorial: Schools’ security