Karachi’s private school administrations have withdrawn their planned strike on Friday, January 9, after Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah assured them that their concerns regarding Anti-Corruption Department actions would be addressed.
The decision followed a meeting between private school representatives and the education minister, attended by Secretary Schools and Director Schools Rafia Javed, where officials listened to complaints about alleged harassment by anti-corruption officials.
Read more : Karachi mayor approves Rs4.2bn plan to rehabilitate four major roads
Private school leaders explained that Anti-Corruption Department inspections were causing undue pressure on school administrations, creating fear among parents, teachers, and students, and violating the Sindh Private Institutions Act, 2013.
Minister Shah said that while the Anti-Corruption Department must follow court orders, it should act respectfully toward schools and parents, and unnecessary harassment should be avoided, ensuring smooth functioning of educational institutions.
Read more : Foiled Karachi terror plot revives memories of past attacks
He also confirmed consulting Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and stated that the Education Department and Anti-Corruption Department would devise a joint mechanism for implementing court orders appropriately.
The Grand Alliance of Private Schools Associations had initially announced the strike to demand dignified enforcement of the Sindh High Court Sukkur Bench verdict requiring verification of freeship lists, but the schools emphasized their commitment to educating children responsibly.