KARACHI, Jan 11: The City Council Karachi on Tuesday bitterly criticised establishment of the Aga Khan Education Board and said it was an attempt to change the national education system on secular lines.

Some council members said the government was bent upon secularising the education system of the country by allowing the Aga Khan board. Abdul Rashid starting the debate on the issue said the government education boards were being forced to get themselves affiliated with the Aga Khan board.

"There is a common practice in the whole world that private boards are affiliated with government boards, but it is on the contrary here. And, government boards are being affiliated with the Aga Khan board," he added.

He demanded for a thorough debate on the issue, as it was a matter of the country's ideological basis, which was being eliminated through secular steps. Razzaq Siddiqui from the Awam Dost Panel severely criticised the government move to allow the board, and demanded it to immediately withdraw the notification in this regard.

Mujahid Barkati said, in view of the issue's sensitivity, a whole day should be fixed for debate. His view was also supported by other members. Later, taking up the issue of arrears of honorarium, members took exception of delaying tactics in payment of the amount by concerned department.

Haji Siddique Rathore said it was beyond comprehension as to why concerned authorities were reluctant to pay the amount, when the council itself had approved it in the current budget.

Rathore also expressed concern over the inability of law enforcement agencies (LEA) for recovery of two judges, who were kidnapped over a month ago in interior Sindh.

Muslim Pervez, the senior presiding officer concluding the debate on the arrears issue hoped the matter would be resolved in the next few days. Sajjad Dara, Mahfoozul Nabi, Jaffarul Hassan, Shamim Mumtaz Wasi, Rashid Baig also spoke. - PPI