KARACHI, April 20: Politicians and leaders of teachers’ and students’ organizations have expressed their grave concern over hostilities at educational institutions in the city between rival student groups which have led to violent clashes.

Dozens of people, mainly activists of the student organizations, have already sustained injuries in the clashes which started from a college and spread to more than 12 universities, colleges and other educational institutions within a few days.

Deploring the violence, the leaders urged the authorities to take cognizance of the situation before it could take an ugly turn and destroy the peaceful atmosphere in all the educational institutions.

The SPLA (Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association) has warned that the situation might pose a serious security threat to students and teachers during the intermediate examinations, starting Thursday, unless immediate remedial measures were taken.

The SPLA office-bearers, Prof Riaz Ahsan, Manzoor Chishti, Athar Mirza and Muhammad Akbar Khan, said in a statement that the Regional Executive Committee of SPLA would meet on Tuesday at D. J. Science College to decide on invigilation in the wake of the volatile situation and the government’s indifferent attitude towards it.

The Coordination Committee of Muttahida Qaumi Movement condemned, what it called, ‘armed terrorism’ against the APMSO students by the activists of Jamaat-i-Islami’s students wing. It also deplored the attack on Abdul Aziz Bantwa (MPA). It appealed to President Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali to take stern action against the elements who wanted to destroy peaceful atmosphere in educational institutions. The committee demanded recovery of the kidnapped APMSO activists.

In its statement, the central ad-hoc committee of the APMSO accused rangers of patronizing the those who resorted to attacks on the APMSO activists in certain educational institutions.

The Nazim of Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT), Karachi, Munim Zafar Khan, warned the city government and Corps Commander that attacks by armed elements on the IJT workers’ residences may result in disastrous consequences.

He said that the attacks on IJT activists were an attempt to destabilize peace at educational institutions.

Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) observed that unprovoked attacks ‘by MQM and its students wing’ appeared to be an attempt to hide party’s internal differences and rifts.

The MMA’s Deputy Parliamentary Leader in Sindh Assembly and several of its MPAs, in a statement, alleged that police fully supported terrorists and that the arrested injured students were implicated in false cases.