KARACHI, Aug 23: Teachers and students of St Joseph's and St Patrick's colleges, protesting against denationalization of their colleges, demanded the provincial education department to take back its decision.

The protest demonstration, held at Karachi Press Club on Monday, was also attended by office-bearers of the Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association. Holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans against denationalization, the protesters demanded Education Minister Hamida Khuhro to refrain from transforming education into a saleable commodity.

Addressing the protesters, SPLA President Prof Syed Riaz Ahsan said that teachers, students and their parents would continue their struggle until education department officials take back the decision of denationalizing St Patrick's and St Joseph's colleges.

Prof Manzoor Hussain Chishti of the SPLA said that teachers and students were ready to give sacrifices for the protection of educational institutions. Mirza Athar Hussain of the SPLA said that education department officials should take back decision of handing over colleges to previous owners in the larger interests of education, otherwise, they would face stiff resistance from all stake holders.

On the occasion, SPLA office-bearers announced that teachers and students would take out a rally after a meeting in Shah Faisal Colony on Tuesday and call on City Nazim Naimatullah Khan to present him a joint charter of demands. -PPI