KARACHI: The unique decision to re-install biometric machines to ensure the attendance of teachers in colleges across Sindh has once again created a tense situation. The Department of College Education has tried to settle the matter by forming a one-member inquiry committee consisting of a friend of the controversial officer to allegedly reward the corrupt officers.
A few days ago, Assistant Director / Lecturer Rashid Khoso posted at Directorate General Colleges Sindh Karachi visited Government Boys Degree College Pir Jo Goth and Government Girls College Pir Jo Goth in Khairpur district in connection with the installation of the biometric device, where Rashid Khoso allegedly has an issue with the principals and teachers of both the colleges and exchange hot words with them.
After the incident, college teachers across Sindh across the province observed a “black day” against the alleged behavior and treatment of teachers by Rashid Khoso. A one-member inquiry committee has been formed in which Ghulam Murtaza Sheikh, Additional Secretary (A&D), a friend of Rashid Khoso, has been made a member of the inquiry committee. The committee will investigate the unfortunate incident at Government Girls College in Pir Jo Goth, Khairpur District and will submit a report to the Secretary, Department of Education Colleges in 10 days.
On the other hand, instead of inquiring into the attitude, character and conduct of Assistant Director / Lecturer Rashid Khoso, the Department of Education Colleges has issued “Explanation Letters” to the complaining principals. The Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association (SPLA), an association of college teachers across Sindh, has been raising serious concerns against the move and hinted that the matter would be taken to court, anti-corruption, National Accountability Bureau and Federal Investigation Agency.
In this regard, the leaders of the Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association (SPLA) have issued a joint statement saying that the situation of the college education department is changing day by day. Those who are masters in humiliating teachers are given license for corruption and even allowed to play the role of public teacher on social media, an example of this practice is not found in the past.
Expressing surprise and regret over the incident, SPLA leaders said that teachers were also insulted in the Government Girls Boys’ College, Pir Jo Goth incident and now a letter of inquiry has been issued against the teachers in which preparations are being made to target 4 teachers of Sukkur region.
The Additional Secretary who heads the Inquiry Committee is a close friend of Assistant Director Rashid Khoso, the main character of the incident. Therefore, SPLA rejects such a committee and demands an impartial committee that also includes the representation of stakeholders.
The leaders of SPLA also said at the end that we know what crime these teachers are being targeted for, we will only expose the biometric corruption and bring those involved in this corruption to justice. Legal experts are being consulted in this regard. If it does not stop corruption, then NAB, FIA or anti-corruption will be approached in this regard.
SPLA leaders included Prof. Shahjahan Panhwar, Prof. Munawar Abbas, Prof. Karim Narejo, Prof. Mushtaq Phulpota, Prof. Altaf Khuhro, Prof. Sajid Jafari, Prof. Mustafa Kaka, Prof. Muhammad Hanif Durrani, Prof. Abdul Manan Brohi, Prof. Amirul Haq, Prof. Lal Bakhsh Kalhoro, Prof. Ghofran Baloch, Prof. Yusuf Qaimkhani, Prof. Nazia Solangi, Prof. Liaquat Bhutto, Prof. Saeed Fatima.
Asif Munir, Prof. Adeel Meraj, Prof. Saeed Abro, Prof. Hassan Mir Bahar, Prof. Abdul Majeed Tanwari, Prof. Aziz Memon, Prof. Abdul Rashid Talani, Prof. Nasrullah Kumbher, Prof. Syed Amir Ali, Prof. Syed Munawar Ali Shah, Prof. Ali Chandio, Prof. Rasool Bakhsh Qazi, Prof. Nazakat Ali, Prof. Nasrullah Bhatti, Prof. Shabana Afzal and others included.
