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KARACHI, Feb 27: The Sindh Assembly on Thursday admitted the adjournment motion move by the Leader of the Opposition, Nisar Khuhro, who raised the wanted a debate on why Sindhi language was not being taught in a large number of private schools in the province.
He claimed that the provincial government had failed to ensure introduction of Sindhi as subject from class I to VII in private schools.
Responding to the observations, the Education Minister, Irfanullah Marwat, in his apparent bid to scuttle the discussion, claimed that Sindhi was being taught in all the registered private schools. However, Mr Khuhro countered his claim by insisting that there were 4,500 unregistered private schools in the province as against 3,000 registered ones. He also asked about any measure by the government in this regard.
Mr Marwat replied that a legislation was under consideration to make it mandatory for all the schools to introduce Sindhi language and adopt an approved syllabus.
The minister referred to various complaints against private schools. Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Saifullah Dharejo and Shazia Ata Mari also spoke on the issue before the Speaker, Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, announced the decision on the motion.
QUESTION HOUR: The Home Minister, Syed Sardar Ahmed told the House that a total of 1,132 people committed suicide in the province between Oct 12, 1999 and Jan 18 this year. He was responding to a question raised by Ms Humera Alvani of PPP during question hour.
Giving region-wise details, Mr Ahmed said that 295 people committed suicide in Karachi, 577 in Hyderabad and 260 in Sukkur. He pointed out no such incident was reported from Jacobabad.
When asked whether the government was taking any preventive measures, the minister said that the government was keen to ensure fair treatment with all and sundry.
Replying to Mehreen Razzaq Bhutto’s question, the minister told the House that during the last two years, 149 encounters with dacoits were reported from various parts of the province. The House was told that 653 people were killed in traffic accidents in Karachi.
To another question, Mr Ahmed said that between Jan 2001 and Dec 2002, five people died in police custody in Karachi. He also gave figures pertaining to similar incidents in other regions and briefed the House about the action being taken against the concerned police personnel.
