KARACHI, Jan 24: Sindh Education Minister Dr Hamida Khuhro taking notice of the demolition of a school building in Firdous Colony has ordered an inquiry into the matter to be completed in a week.

A communiqué issued by the Sindh Information Department on Wednesday said the education minister expressed concern over the media reports about the school building and said the educational institutions were the nation’s valuable asset. She stated that a stern action would be taken according to law against those involved in this matter.

She directed Sindh Education Secretary Sabhago Khan Jatoi to initiate an inquiry into the demolition of Federal English Government Boys Secondary School in Firdous Colony and submit the report to her within a week.

However, education department officials said she did not issue the orders to conduct an inquiry into the process of handing over the possession of school building to a private individual. She directed the secretary education to conduct the inquiry, who had given approval to hand over the school’s premises to a private individual on the basis of the orders of a former secretary education, they said adding that by issuing the orders, he himself became a party to this matter.

Students and their parents, who visited the school on Wednesday afternoon, said the demolition of the school building continued unabated and it had not been stopped by the authorities.

The city government education department implemented the orders to vacate the school building and hand it over to a private individual following the approval given by the Sindh Education Department. EDO Mrs Fakhar Karim Siddiqui had sent a note to the education secretary for approval, who sent her back the note with instructions that she could take action as per direction already issued to her by the former secretary education.

Following strong criticism from different quarters over the decision to vacate the school building, the city government education department and City Nazim Mustafa Kamal said the department had acted upon a court’s decision. However, the education department failed to produce the relevant court order about evacuation of the school premises.