FBISE SSC exams: Girls bag top positions Girls bag top positions in SSC exams Islamabad, June 30: The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary E

FBISE SSC exams: Girls bag top positions

Girls bag top positions in SSC exams
Islamabad, June 30: The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) on Monday declared the results of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Part-II examinations, with girls excelling in both science and humanities groups by clinching the top positions.

Overall pass percentage remained 81.77 per cent for the examinations held in March-April this year. The pass percentage for regular and private students remained 91.63 and 41.98 per cent, respectively.

In science group, Aatiqa Sohail Khan of Fauji Foundation College for Girls, New Lalazar in Rawalpindi; and Misbah Zeb of Army Public School, Okara Cantonment, bagged the top position. Both students secured 1,007 marks out of the total 1,050 marks.

The second position was secured by Nasar Mubarak of PAF Public School Lower Topa, Murree; and Iman Akhtar of Army Public School, Iqbal Shaheed Road, Saddar Karachi Cantonment. Both secured 1,004 marks each.Similarly, the third position was shared by Komal Mushtaq of Fazaia Model Inter College, Mushaf Sargoda; and Seema Kanwal of Army Public School, Stadium Road Hamza camp Rawalpindi. Both obtained 1,002 marks.

In the humanities group, Komal Gilani of F.G. Girls High School Loi Bhir clinched the top position by securing 931 marks, followed by Maimuna Ahmad of F.G. Girls Model School G-6/1-3, Islamabad, who obtained 921 marks. Mehwish Bibi of F.G. Girls Model School G-11/2, Islamabad, stood third by securing 911 marks.

The overall percentage among girls appearing in science and humanitarian groups remained 96.2 and 83.11 per cent, respectively. Likewise, the percentage among boys in science and humanities groups remained 91.84 and 73.26 per cent, respectively.

A total of 47,124 students, both boys and girls appeared as regular candidates and 43,147 of them were declared successful. The number of private students was 11,745, but just 4,897 passed the examinations.

The FBISE announced that 54 cases of use of unfair means were reported this year. Fifty of these cases had been decided while the remaining four cases were being processed.

The FBISE advised the candidates whose results have been withheld for want of fee/eligibility to resolve discrepancies immediately to enable the office to declare their results.

The board has also announced that the supplementary examinations of will commence from August 25. It said the candidates, who have failed in four subjects in the first attempt, should reappear in all the subjects. The results are also available on the FBISE website . Dawn

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Demand for PEC recognition

Demand for PEC recognition
Faisalabad: Students of the Government College University Faisalabad's bachelor of telecom engineering on Tuesday lifted their voice to demand recognition with the Pakistan Engineering Council.

The university administration, however, says the requirements for the PEC have been completed and a team is expected to visit the institute soon to give a go-ahead to the accreditation.

The students boycotted their classes and blocked traffic at main Imambargah, Narawala, Chiniot and Kutchery Bazaar chowks and demonstrated outside the press club.

The banners and placards they had held were inscribed with slogans highlighting their demand.

The students said the university had set June 30 as deadline for their discipline's accreditation with the PEC but the authorities failed to do so much to their disappointment.

They questioned the varsity administration's claim that they had fulfilled all requirements for the PEC recognition though, they said, the PEC website declared the course week.

They appealed to Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry to take suo motu notice of the situation and direct the PEC to recognise the department.

Dr Shahid Mehboob Rana, the vice chancellor, said the varsity had fulfilled the requirements by recruiting a professor, two deputy directors, two assistant professors, nine lecturers and two lab engineers. He said they would join the institution within two to three days.

"The university has also provided nearly 2,500 books to the department and formed a contemporary lab to meet the other PEC requirement," he said. Dawn

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Karachi Matric General Group result 2009

Matric General Group result likely today
Karachi, June 29: The Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) is likely to announce the result of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Part-II (Matriculation) General Group (both Regular and Private) candidates on Monday (today).

Interestingly, the BSEK has not arranged any ceremony to honour position-holders, while high officials of the board seem to be deliberately avoiding the question-answer session which used to be a part of result announcement process.

This is the second time in a row that the board is not holding this ceremony and the main reason behind avoiding the event appears to be corruption during the examinations held in March-April 2009 in which several high-level officials were allegedly involved.

Sources said that some high officials of the board had allegedly supported the "cheating-mafia" by allocating them desired examination centres in order to facilitate special students who had paid a heavy amount for such services.

Several such examinations centres unearthed in Saudabad, Port Qasim, Gulshan-e-Hadeed and Gulshan-e-Iqbal, which were offering special examination rooms to the candidates who had paid huge money for the purpose.

Some board officials were also blamed for selling "top-rank" positions to certain private schools, coaching centres or in some cases even individuals for some obvious reasons, the sources said. Sources further alleged that the BSEK officials had also committed departmental irregularities during the annual examinations last year.

The result of a school in Sahabdad Goth, Malir, was withheld under the same (cheating) charges and the former BSEK controller Javed Iftikhar blacklisted the school and banned it from conducting any exams in the future.

However, no major changes were seen during the annual examination 2009, as the "cheating-mafia" managed to continue its business in connivance with some officials, sources alleged.

During this year's exams, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan took serious notice of the matter and cancelled the contract of BSEK Secretary Asif Pasha Siddiqui, Examination Controller Javed Iftikhar and Deputy Controller Bizad Ullah Khan with immediate effect. The governor had also ordered an enquiry against eight other employees of the board
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PM Distributes Medals, Laptops Among Position-Holders

PM distributes medals, laptops among position-holders

Islamabad: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Monday distributed medals among students who secured positions in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Part-II Annual Examinations 2009 of the Federal Board Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE).

It was for the first time that a prime minister distributed medals among position-holders of the SSC examinations. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani also presented laptops to position-holders.

On the occasion, the prime minister talked with position-holders to get first-hand knowledge about missing facilities and problems faced by them in their respective academic institutions. He asked searching questions from students and issued directives for resolution of their problems.

During the process when students expressed satisfaction over facilities provided to them in their respective schools, he jokingly remarked that the same satisfaction is expressed by MNAs when he asks them about any problem.

In a light mood, the prime minister asked students what their schools lacked except for electricity. "I know that there is shortage of electricity, what else they do not have in their schools," he asked.

Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani announced launching of an educational crusade on emergent basis to achieve the target of 100% literacy by 2015.

He said that the new education policy would be announced soon which would cater to the present-day requirements. He said under the new policy all science subjects would be taught in English right from class one.

He said the government is giving priority to both primary and higher education and providing necessary resources for the purpose. He said the government would encourage all those organisations in private sector, which are willing to contribute to the promotion of education.

He said that education is key to progress and prosperity and the government is determined to secure Pakistan and take it to the zenith of development through education. He said the government is striving to provide peaceful environment to the educational institutions and also committed to eliminate those elements, who are stopping girls from attending schools.

He said that the Holy Qur'aan and Hadith are our proud heritage and these are a beacon for us. He extended congratulations to position-holders and expressed confidence that they would scale more heights in their career.

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Certificate distribution ceremony at Roots School

Certificate distribution ceremony at Roots School
Rawalpindi: Females are the main beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), as over 5.5 million families have been registered under the scheme up till now.

Benazir Income Support Programme Chairperson Farzana Raja stated this while speaking at the Montessori Certificate Distribution Ceremony at the Roots School, DHA Campus, here. She said: "We are giving Rs1,000 per month to women so that their family members give them due respect."

She said that Nadra has registered 2.2 million females in the country during the last six months. She stated that 18,000 were registered in Fata where they face life threats. The government has pledged to bring a social change through the BISP. In the next phase, these families would be provided with basic health facilities and accidental coverage up to Rs25,000. Females would be imparted vocational training and skills to enable them to start their own business and earn livelihood for their families.

Farzana Raja praised the Roots National Institute of Teachers Training and Education for providing professional training and community education free of cost to underprivileged teachers. The first batch includes 120 participants, including teachers from rural areas, government schoolteachers, housewives, young mothers, professional doctors, fashion designers and teachers from Khairpur, Sindh.

RNITTE Director Chaudhry Faisal Mushtaq said that the institute was founded with the strategic national aim of imparting teacher training at the national level to help bridge the gap and develop a pool of professionally certified teachers who would become value added members of society.

Later, founder director Riffat Mushtaq gave the school memento to the chief guest while the chief guest distributed certificates among the participants. The News

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FUUAST Extends form Submission Date

Karachi: Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology (FUUAST), has extended examination form and fee submission date of BA, B.Com, MA, special examination for seminary students and improvement of division from26 June to 27 June, 2009, a FUUAST release said on Friday.
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BSEK Asks for Submission of Documents

BSEK asks for submission of Documents

Karachi: Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) has asked all candidates, regular and private, who have been allowed provisionally to appear in SSC Part-II (Class X) Annual Examination 2009 (Science and General Group), to submit their required documents immediately to regularise their appearance in examination. The board announced that the results of those candidates who failed to submit the required documents would be cancelled. The News
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Masters admission list Released

Karachi: The list of valid claims concerning the recent master-level admissions in University of Karachi (KU) evening programme has been released and displayed at the Silver Jubilee Gate and Directorate of Evening Programme, announced KU Evening Programme Director Prof. Dr Abuzar Wajidi. According to a press statement issued on Sunday, the successful candidates should submit their fees by June 30.
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Tevta to train 40,000 youths

Tevta to train 40,000 youths

Lahore: In order to provide trained manpower to the industry locally and internationally and to alleviate poverty, the NAVTEC will pay Rs 480 million to TEVTA to train 40,000 youth. In this regard, Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) signed an MoU with National Vocational and Technical Education Commission (NAVTEC) at TEVTA Secretariat on Tuesday. The MoU was signed by Secretary TEVTA Rafia Nazir and Regional Director NAVTEC Abid Javaid. Chairman TEVTA Mohsin Syed and other officers were also present. The News
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Pak youth still behind bars in UK

Bannu: A detained Pakistani youth, who was one among the nine Pakistani students held on unfound charges of hatching a terror plot in the United Kingdom, was yet to be released despite the fact that the allegation levelled against him were not substantiated by any evidence in the British courts.

The parents of one such detainee identified as Ahmad Faraz Khan, a resident of Bannu, Tuesday said their son was not proved guilty yet he had been kept in custody since April 8, 2009.

His father, Sarfaraz, added that Faraz was innocent and his detention would only destroy his career and his education would remain incomplete. The parents feared that their hard earned money would go to waste if the authorities concerned did not allow their son to appear in his remaining two papers.

They further said that Faraz was kept in Bradford jail despite being innocent and his detention would destroy his career and peace of mind. The distressed parents appealed to the British government to release their son while fulfilling the obligation of fair-play and justice in saving his future as he had done nothing wrong under the British laws. Ahmad Faraz, who got admission in John Morrison University in December 2006 and was in final semester when he was caught and landed in Bradford Jail without any proved charges. The News

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Urdu University exams from July 1

Urdu University exams from July 1

Islamabad: The controller of examination at Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology has announced a schedule for annual examinations of Bachelor of Arts, B.Com and MA. According to an announcement, the examinations for BA previous and final years will commence on July 1 and conclude on July 21. Similarly, B.Com (private) examinations will start on July 2 and end on July 20. The examinations for MA will be held from July 3 to July 14.
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FPSC Comes To A Standstill Without A Chairman

FPSC comes to a standstill without a chairman
Islamabad: Despite the lapse of 70 days, President Asif Zardari has not yet appointed a new chairman for the Federal Public Service Commission.

Without a chairman, the functioning of the FPSC has literally come to a standstill. Neither the process for the fresh appointments could be started nor those whose nominations have already been finalised by the Commission could be processed any further in this situation, sources in the FPSC say.

Under Article 242(1-A) of the 1973 Constitution, it is the discretion of the president to appointment the Commissionís chairman.The last chairman, Lt-Gen (retd) Shahid Hameed, retired on March 29. However, despite the lapse of almost 70 days, the president has not yet appointed a new head.

The FPSC is the countryís top institution that makes BS-16 and above appointments in almost all the federal government departments besides conducting the Central Superior Services (CSS) competition every year to make appointments in the civil services.

Under the FPSC Act, the chairman has such a crucial role in the functioning of the Commission that in his absence the recruitment process could neither be initiated nor finalised. The Commission also comprises eleven members but they too are dependent on the work assigned to them by the chairman. In absence of the chairman, no member or any other official of the Commission could look after the work of the chairmanís office. The government also does not have any power to appoint an acting chairman till the appointment of a regular one by the president.

The sources said the CSS 2008 allocations to the successful candidates were awaiting the sanction of the Commissionís chief. The result of the CSS 2008 was announced when the former chairman was in the office but the allocations are yet be made against over 300 vacancies already conveyed by the Establishment Division to the FPSC. The FPSC sources said that all the homework is complete regarding the CSS allocations, which now only require the chairmanís sanction.

Besides, the sources said, the Commission was also helpless to process either those appointments that were sought by different ministries and departments or the nominations that had already been finalised by the Commissionís committees but not yet sent to the respective government departments.

The Commission in routine receives requests from different government agencies to make appointments against the posts that fall within its purview. These posts are advertised following which test and interviews are conducted. For the interviews, it is the chairman, who constitutes committees.

Similarly, some of the two-member committees, which were assigned to interview candidates against different government posts by the former chairman, have completed their assignments and sent their nominations to the chairman office for approval and for their further processing to the respective government department etc for appointment. But these nomination cases are also waiting for the chairmanís formal approval. However, no one knows when would the president appoint the new FPSC chief.

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Expensive Equipment Stolen from KU Pharmacy Dept

Expensive equipment stolen from KU pharmacy dept
Karachi: Burglars barged into the instrument room of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi (KU), late Monday night and decamped with a High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) unit, Scanners, and some other instruments. The HPLC cost around Rs1.2 million.

In charge of the department, Dr Fayyaz Vaid, expressed his surprise that the incident could happen right under the noses of the KU Security and the Rangers. "The bolt of the locked room was cut by the burglars and the instruments were carried away. How can they do it when the main gates are guarded 24 hours a day," Dr Vaid wondered.

The apathy of the KU Security was evident by their lukewarm attitude. A Security Officer came, spoke with the teachers and staff of the department and went. Nothing was done till 2:00 pm when two police personnel from the Mubeena Town Police station arrived in the department.

Karachi University Teachers Society Secretary Dr Shakeel Farooqui, who had earlier arrived, objected to the visit of the police personnel who were supposed to be accompanied by the KU Security.

"An FIR has been registered and hopefully there will be some positive development in the case," Campus Security Secretary Arman Ahmed said. The News

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FPSC Screening Tests

FPSC screening tests from June 22
Islamabad, June 11: Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) will hold professional screening tests from June 22 to July 1, said a press release on Wednesday. The test will be held simultaneously, at Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, D.I. Khan, Gilgit, Multan and Sukkur for various posts in Commission's consolidated advertisement nos. 19/2008 to 21/2008
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BSEK Notification

BSEK notification
The Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) has asked those candidates who were provisionally allowed to appear in the SSC-II annual examinations-2009 (science and general groups) to submit the required documents latest by June 15 at the board's office in order to avoid withholding of their results.
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Education Policy Draft Rejected

Draft education policy rejected by federal cabinet
Islamabad, June 11: The federal cabinet has rejected the new National Education Policy and directed the Ministry of Education to re-submit fresh proposals after seeking suggestions from educationists.

Official sources said on Wednesday that the cabinet in a special meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani opined that the new education policy does not represent the concerned quarters, including educationists, intellectuals, the provincial government and teachers' unions, which was mandatory for it.

According to sources, the Ministry of Education tabled the same proposals prepared by former education minister Ahsan Iqbal.

While rejecting the draft of education policy, the cabinet has directed the education ministry to seek recommendations of the concerned quarters to make it more effective.

Sources said that the new policy draft would take another two to three months after which it would be tabled before the cabinet for approval.

There is a chance that the new education policy would be announced after four to five months, sources said.

Similarly, recommendation draft of the policy also did not contain comments of the chief ministers of all the four provinces, which was a mandatory obligation.

Commenting over the issue, Ministry of Education Spokesman Aamir Raza confirmed the report and the reasons behind rejection of the draft of the new education policy by the cabinet. He said as per directions of the cabinet, the ministry would approach the related educationists, union and associations representatives and all the four provincial heads of the respective education departments. "Till then the old system would be followed in all educational institutions including colleges and schools at federal and provincial levels," he added. The News

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Student on UK deportation list returns Home

London: Tariqur Rehman, one of the 10 Pakistani students arrested on suspicion of being involved in plotting terrorist activities in the UK and then released for want of actionable evidence but facing deportation orders on national security grounds, returned home on Wednesday after authorities withdrew his deportation orders.

"Now he carries no 'terror' stigma any more and we assume that the Pakistani authorities too would have no cause to detain him on his arrival for interrogation," one of the solicitors defending the students said. Meanwhile, bail applications of other nine Pakistani students in appeal against their deportation orders are likely to get a positive boost when they come up for hearing on July 27 by a landmark ruling on Wednesday by the law lords.

The ruling is said to have dealt a major blow to the government's controversial use of 'control orders' on terror suspects. The ruling said that reliance on secret evidence denies the suspects a fair trial.

The nine-judge panel led by Lord Philips of Worth Matravers, the senior law lord, upheld a challenge on behalf of three men (not among the detained Pakistani students) on 'control orders'.

Control orders imposed on individual suspects by the home secretary can include home curfews of up to 16 hours a day, a ban on travelling abroad, the approval of all visitors by the Home Office, monitoring of all phone calls, and bans on using the internet and mobile phones.

The orders have not been quashed but the law lords have ordered that the cases be heard again.

The three had argued that the refusal to disclose even the "gist" of the evidence against them denied them a fair trial under the Human Rights Act.

In the ruling, Lord Philips said: "A trial procedure can never be considered fair if a party to it is kept in ignorance of the case against him."

Lord Hope said "the slow creep of complacency must be resisted" and that to protect the rule of law, courts must insist the person affected be told what was alleged against him.

These observations are likely to help the solicitors defending the Pakistani students facing deportation orders as in their cases as well the authorities are not willing to disclose what is alleged against them.

A report in The Guardian on Wednesday quoted Home Secretary Alan Johnson as saying that the judgment was extremely disappointing. "Protecting the public is my top priority and this judgment makes that task harder," he said. "Nevertheless, the government will continue to take all steps we can to manage the threat presented by terrorism." Dawn

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Primary teachers protest in Larkana

Larkana: Activists of the All Sindh Primary Teachers Association held a protest rally here on Monday for acceptance of their demands.

Participants of the rally, led by their central leaders Rafiq Ahmed Jarwar, Liaquat Ali Deedar and others, marched from Naudero to the Bhutto family mausoleum in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh. The schoolteachers were holding banners and placards, inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands.

Addressing the participants, Liaquat Ali Deedar, Syed Raza Ali Shah and others said the schoolteachers of Sindh were deprived of time scale and teachers allowance, while all these facilities were being provided to the schoolteachers of other provinces. The genuine issues of the schoolteachers of Sindh were yet to be resolved, they said. The News

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FUUAST to establish Homeopathic Faculty

Karachi: The Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST) has decided to establish Homeopathic Faculty the dean of which will be Dr Syed Kamaluddin.

The decision was made at a meeting of FUUAST and National Council for Homeopathy. The council will also ensure accreditation to the university. The university will take the examination of degree courses and will conduct four-year Homeopathic Diploma Course which will be equivalent to BSc Homeopathy.

Meanwhile, the results of Pharm D, First Batch 2004 have been announced by the university. As per results, Shabli Shakeel, Mohammad Usmanur Rehman Khan and Dureshahwar Malik secured first, second and third positions respectively. It was the first passing out batch of Pharmacy Faculty whose results remained 100 per cent, a university release said on Monday.

KU: The University of Karachi Monday declared the result of B. Com. Part-II/both parts (Regular) Annual Examinations 2008.According to result notification, Naveed son of Deedar Ali Khimami, roll number 860637 of Govt. College of Commerce & Economics secured 851 marks out of 1100 and stood first.

Humaira Amin daughter of Muhammad Amin roll 866322 of DHA. Degree College for Women obtained 838 marks and clinched second position while Nadia Abid daughter of Taj Ali Abid roll 868032 of Govt. College of Commerce & Economics stood third securing 833 marks.

In all 29044 candidates applied and 27567 appeared in the examination of which 1752 passed in first, 6926 second and 118 in third division. The pass percentage is 31.90. The News

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Inter admit cards dispatched

Karachi, June 11: The Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) dispatched the admit cards and date sheets of all private students of Humanities Group at their residential address for the HSC Annual Examination 2009, a press release said on Monday.

It further said that the candidates who have changed their addresses should get their admit cards from their old addresses. The BIEK has also dispatched the admit cards and date sheets of regular candidates to their respective colleges. The BIEK also said that private candidates who do not receive their admit cards by June 14, should contact Room No8 of the board during office hours. The duplicate admit cards would be provided on showing registration card, receipt for depositing examination form and fee and SSC mark sheet.

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Sindh University Jamshoro Students Boycott Exams

Students at SU boycott exams
Hyderabad, June 11: Over 1,500 students of the Sindh University Jamshoro campus marched out of their hostels late on Wednesday and staged a sit-in on the Indus Highway for three hours in protest against police firing on the STP rally in Karachi, killing three activists.

A heavy contingent of Jamshoro district police reached the spot and remained there. Students called off the strike voluntarily after three hours while announcing mourning of seven days for those killed by police.

The students were led by Safdar Tunio, Ali Mohammad Burfat and Awais Bachkani. Protesters raised slogans against the Sindh government and the influx of internally displaced persons into Sindh.

They also announced boycott of the semester examinations paper scheduled for Thursday (today). The university postponed Wednesday's paper as the activists did not allow the plying of point buses.

A source in the university said that the students had demanded that they should be provided university point buses for going to Karachi to take part in the STP rally but the university administration refused the request. Neither teachers nor students

nor employees could reach the campus for want of point buses.

Meanwhile, Awami Tehrik leaders condemned the killing of three STP workers by Karachi police.

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'530 university teachers work under TTS'

Islamabad: Higher Education Commission (HEC) Quality Assurance Director and former Vice Chancellor of Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad Dr Azam Khwaja has revealed that 530 teachers are working at various universities of the country under Tenure Track System (TTS).

Delivering a lecture in Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology (FUUAST) on Tuesday, Khwaja urged teachers to appreciate that in the recent past, it was unthinkable that a teacher could receive 312,000 rupees in salaries or attain more than grade 20. "HEC has done precisely that in order to enhance the standard of education in the country. We have granted scholarships for higher education to hundreds of students and teachers. More than 400 of such students have returned and are contributing to improving the standard of teaching in the academia.

FUUAST Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Qaiser also spoke at the occasion, and expressed hope that the HEC would continue its fine work despite the financial crunch.

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Form Submission Date Extended

Form submission date extended
Karachi: Director Evening Programme, University of Karachi, Dr Abuzar Wajidi has announced extension in the date for submission of admission forms for the M.S/ Masters/ PGD Programme from June 10 to June 13.
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Hooliganism mars exams at Karachi University

Karachi: Students taking law and medical exams at Karachi University on Monday were shocked when some activists tore up their answer scripts to protest the murder of student activist.

"It was quite disappointing that our answer scripts were torn up by some students in the presence of a large number of Rangers and KU security personnel deployed on the campus," deplored a candidate, who appeared in MBBS (First Professional) exam.

Campus sources said that student activists asked the university administration to postpone the Monday papers after receiving news of the death of the student, who had been attacked two days back. But, they added, the administration did not take the matter seriously and failed to provide complete security to candidates.

The sources said that Karachi University Vice-Chancellor Dr Pirzada Qasim had asked the pro-vice-chancellor and the controller of examinations to ensure peaceful conduct of the exams, but they could not make proper security arrangements.

Meanwhile, the university's examination department has announced that both the LLB (Part-I) and MBBS First Professional (Part-A) papers, which were marred by hooliganism, have been postponed to June 27.

Timings and examination centres will remain unchanged, according to a KU notification. Dawn

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B.Com Regular Annual Examinations-2008 Results

The University of Karachi on Monday announced the results of BCom (regular candidates) annual examinations-2008.

The university took about six months to announce the results of the examination, last paper of which was held on Jan 1, 2009.

According to statistics of the result, a total of 27,567 candidates appeared in the examination and only 1,752 of them were declared pass in the first division, 6,926 in the second division and 118 in the third division. The overall pass percentage stood at just 31.9.

Govt College of Commerce and Economics bagged the first and third positions while the second position went to the DHA Degree College for Women.

Naveed, son of Deedar Ali Khimami, clinched the first position with 851 (out of the total 1,100) marks; Humaira Amin, daughter of Mohammad Amin, got the second position with 838 marks and Nadia Abid, daughter of Taj Ali Abid, stood third with 833 marks.

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Students or customers?

Students or customers?
London: Are corporate values now running education in the UK? Have schools in this country been taken over by the language of management consultancy? And does this imply an undermining of a central purpose of teaching: to encourage a sense of inquiry and morality in young people?

These are some of the questions raised - and answered in the affirmative - by a new report which is billed as the largest investigation into education and training for 14- to 19-year-olds in England and Wales for 50 years.

The Nuffield 14-19 review, based at Oxford University, has taken six years to compile. Its report, which runs to 230 pages, attacks the "relentless change" in education as often counterproductive; renews calls for a baccalaureate system for secondary schools; asks why many young people drop out of education and training in their late teens, and calls for the government to rethink plans to "coerce" them into staying on; and offers contrasts between England's approach to school reform and that which has operated in Wales since devolution.

It also finds space to praise ministers for, among other things, their commitment to raising participation rates among 16- to 18-year-olds and their investment in school buildings. But it is what it has to say on the often troubled relationship between schools and business in England that is, perhaps, most eye-catching, raising questions about the philosophy that has governed schools policy for many years.

In a section on "aims and values" of the UK education system, the report says that one set of goals - the need to improve schooling to serve the requirements of the economy - has been given prominence. It cites a speech by Tony Blair in 2005 in which he said: "The country will succeed or fail on the basis of how it changes itself and gears up to this new economy, based on knowledge. Education is now the centre of economic policymaking for the future."

The government, says the report, has therefore laid down a set of aims that are dominated by the need to develop skills for the economy. This comes across not just in the set of exam results-based performance indicators by which schools are judged, but in the language that is used to describe education policy and its implementation.

The report says that growing central control of education has helped to produce a drive to talk about schooling from a "performance management" perspective, which is borrowed from business.

It says: "The consumer or client replaces the learner. The curriculum is delivered. Aims are spelt out in terms of targets. Audits (based on performance indicators) measure success defined in terms of hitting the targets."

It adds: "As the language of performance and management has advanced, so we have proportionately lost a language of education which recognises the intrinsic value of pursuing certain sorts of question ... of seeking understanding [and] of exploring through literature and the arts what it means to be human."

The report cites the decision by ministers, when they were developing a system of performance management for teachers in the late 1990s, to bring in management consultants Hay-McBer to define what constituted good teaching. Another consultancy, McKinsey and Company, was seen as the authority on effective teaching after producing a report in 2007 looking at outstanding practice around the world.

The assumption behind much of education policy - that performance targets are set for teachers in the form of pupils' test and exam success, and the means by which they reach them are less important - is also borrowed from industry.

Last week, a speech made by a leading figure in school assessment referred frequently and uncritically to pupils being teachers' "customers". The Guardian

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CDGK schools await SMC funds

Karachi: Despite the release of much-awaited SMC funds for the CDGK run schools, the amount has so far not been distributed among the educational institutions causing inordinate delay to organise girl guides and scouts activities, it was learnt on Wednesday.

It may be noted here that SMC funds have been released after three years due to which various sports activities as well as maintenance and renovation work at these schools could not be started.

The transition of these funds could not be possible to some DDOs of various departments, well-informed sources said.

This year, Rs 148 million were released in the head of SMC funds one month ago, but still has not been distributed among the school heads and principals.

An official in officer in the education department, when contacted, said that funds had been released to the secondary and higher secondary schools for boys and girls.

Headmasters and sports teachers of various schools said that they were unable to initiate girls guide, scout and other sports activities in their institutions due to the delay in the release of SMC funds.

When contacted, DO education said that Rs 70 million had been approved two years back but the said amount was not released for unspecified reasons.

"However, Rs 148 million has been released and the distribution process has also been started among CDGK schools", he added.

The official further said the SMC funds have been approved according to the number of students enrolled in the schools at the rate of Rs 210 per student. He added that education department made all out efforts to get the funds before the start of summer vacations.

City Nazim Mustafa Kamal had approved the summary that would allow the use of School Management Committees (SMC) fund in co-curricular activities such as girls' guide, scouts and sports competitions.

It may be mentioned here that World Bank, in its recommendation about good governance and reforms in the Sindh education system, had stressed the proper use of SMC funds. The Nation

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College teachers boycott Practical Examination

Karachi: Teachers of the Government Adamji Science College on Wednesday boycotted practical examinations and demanded the Chairman Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) to provide them foolproof security against the student wings of various political parties.

As per details, the interference of a political student wing into the said examination held at Government Adamji Science College on Wednesday caused anger among the teachers.

The members of a political student wing wanted the entry of three students in the physics practical exams, carrying three marks.

On the refusal from teachers, they forcibly entered the physics laboratory and disrupted the exams besides manhandling teachers. It is pertinent mention here that Adamji College was conducting practical examinations in two shifts. The first shift was started from 9am to 11am and second one would begin from 11am to 1pm.

During one shift, nearly 20 students can participate while practical exam carries 15 marks including 3 marks of practical general.

A senior teacher of Adamji College, Prof Athar Hussain, who is also a senior leader of Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association (SPLA), said that during the second shift of the practical examination, activists of APMSO asked Assistant Professor Ghulam Mustafa to support them illegally.

On refusal, they adopted objectionable attitude with the senior teachers.

"I was asked to intervene into the matter but I warned them no student would be allowed in the exam without practical general, uniform and admit card. On my strict reply, they threatened me of dire consequences and left the laboratory."

"Manhandling of the teachers and transgression with teachers have become a routine while the authorities concerned do not pay any attention towards the issue", he said, adding that this situation has forced the teachers community to boycott practical examination scheduled to be held at Adamji College.

"The examinations will be held only after the authorities concerned make proper security arrangements for the teachers. Chairman BIEK, Prof Anwar Ahmed Zai and Controller Examinations can play vital role with regard to providing security to the teachers during the said examinations", he said.

Prof Hussain strongly condemned the manhandling of senior teachers at the hands of APMSO members and demanded the authorities concerned to clear the educational institutions of all sorts of political activities. The Nation

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Students disrupt HSC exam

'Students' disrupt exam, harass teacher
Krachi, June 11: In yet another incident of growing hooliganism in educational institutions, students belonging to a political party on Wednesday not only disturbed a practical examination during the ongoing HSC annual examinations at a reputable college of the city, but also took away the answer scripts of the examinees.

The incident occurred at the Adamjee Govt Science College when some students of a group affiliated with a political party entered the physics laboratory where 20 students of Class XI were busy taking their practical examination. The intruders asked the Internal Examiner, Assistant Professor Ghulam Mustafa, to allow three other students to take their practical exam, even though they were not in possession of practical journals.

The internal examiner, according to college sources, told the students who were not in possession of journals that they could take their practical examination some other day, as the practical exams at the college would continue till June 29, but the students belonging to the student organisation insisted that since the three students belonged to their party, they must be allowed to take the practical exam on Wednesday, or else other students would not be allowed to take their practical exams either.

The internal examiner then refused to allow the three students to take the exam, saying that since the journal carried three marks, he would not be able to award the marks to those not possessing it, and neither would he be able to allow them to take the exam.

Under the rules, possession of a journal is mandatory for an examinee at a practical exam.

At this point the students became infuriated, misbehaved with the internal examiner and grabbed him by the collar.

As soon as the news reached other teachers of the college, a senior professor of the college, Prof Ather Hussain Mirza, who was busy conducting the physics practical examination of Class XII students in another lab of the college, rushed to rescue his colleague.

According to Prof Mirza, he told the students that production of a journal at the time of a practical exam was necessary and as such they could not appear in the examination that day. "Shortly afterward, the students who were insisting that those not in possession of journals be allowed to take their practical on Wednesday left the laboratory, but after some time another group of 15 to 20 students entered the laboratory and took away the answer scripts of the students who were busy taking their practical exam."

He said that teachers of the physics department of Adamjee Science College had decided not to conduct any further practical examinations until the chairman and the controller of examinations of the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi take some concrete measures to ensure that such unpleasant incidents did not take place again.

In a similar incident, a group of students belonging to another political party had torn up the answer scripts of examinees on Monday when they were taking their MBBS First Professional (Part A) and LLB (Part-I) examinations at the University of Karachi on Monday. Karachi University had later rescheduled the papers, which will now be held on June 27 at the same time and centre as earlier. Dawn

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Gilani asks US to Review Policy on Drone Attacks

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday said United States should review its policy on drone attacks as it is proving to be counterproductive. Addressing office bearers of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) from Balochistan here at a meeting at Prime Minister House, he said drone attacks harm the government’s efforts to fight militancy and terrorism.

“Drone attacks are counterproductive as these reunite tribesmen and militants,” he said.

He assured that there would be no drone attacks on the territory of Balochistan.Gilani said he sought assurance from US special envoy Richard Holbrooke that more deployment of their forces on the border of Afghanistan would not push militants into Balochistan.The armed forces and intelligence agencies of Pakistan and US should get their act together to avoid any spill over effect of additional troops deployment in Afghanistan, he further said.Gilani said nobody will be allowed to form state within state and challenge writ of the government.

Giving reasons for the military action in Swat and Malakand, he said the miscreants were killing troops and policemen and were blowing up schools, colleges and roads.

“Is this Islam? These elements have maligned the name of our religion. Islam is the religion of peace,” he said adding the miscreants are working to destabilize the country and damage its economy.He said no war can be won without the support of the people and the nation stood united against the oppression of the militants.He lauded the sacrifices of internally displaced persons and vowed to rehabilitate them with honour and security.

“The whole nation is thankful to these people as they sacrificed their today for the nation’s tomorrow.”

The military operation will be concluded in the shortest possible time, he added.He said more personnel will be inducted into the law enforcement agencies, pay of army and police will be raised and insurance facility will be given to them to protect their families.The Prime Minister said the government wants a stable Balochistan which is at par with other provinces in terms of development and infrastructure.He asked the party representatives to forward suggestions before he holds an All Parties Conference (APC) to evolve a united strategy on Balochistan.The National Security Committee led by Senator Raza Rabbani has been tasked to finalize recommendations on Balochistan which will be presented to the APC.The Prime Minister acknowledged the sacrifices and services rendered by the people of Balochistan.

He said his government is willing to talk to any Baloch leader to remove their grievances. He said his government apologized for the mistakes of the past.The Prime Minister again pledged the federal financial support of Rs. 50 billion for the province. This amount is besides the Rs. three billion each for provincial budget and Quetta development package.

The government has also acceded to the demand of the Balochistan government to let it spend the unutilized money of Rs. 21 billion from the last year, he added.Federal Ministers Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Dr. Babar Awan, Syed Khurshid Shah, Naveed Qamar, Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani, Senator Raza Rabbani and President PPP Balochistan Haji Lashkari Raisani attended the meeting.

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Zardari calls for unconditional talks with India

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari urged India on Monday to resume the process of composite dialogue ‘unconditionally’ to jointly address common problems, including terrorism.

Violence and militancy were no solution to political problems, the president said during a meeting with Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, the executive director of Kashmir Centre in Washington.

The president said the ‘merchants of war’ promoted violence for settling political disputes, but this had to be resisted through recourse to peaceful indigenous political movements.

The dialogue was halted by India after the Mumbai attacks in November last year.

The president said: ‘Pakistan wants an honourable, equitable and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir.’

He said the opening of trade across the Line of Control in Kashmir by Pakistan would bring Kashmiri people closer and pave way for a peaceful political resolution to the dispute.

‘No resolution will be equitable or honourable which is not in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Kashmir.’

The president praised the Kashmir Centre for highlighting the Kashmir issue internationally.

Mr Fai thanked the president for his government’s support to the cause of Kashmiri people.

Oil and gas sector

During a meeting with the chairman of BRIDAS, an international oil company of Argentina, the president praised the Argentine government for taking interest in the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project and in exploration and development of gas fields in Balochistan and Sindh.

He said the petroleum exploration and production policy for 2009 offered great incentives to investors, adding that his government had adopted an approach based on the principles of de-regularisation, liberalisation and privatisation.

President Zardari said that in view of the increasing energy demand over the next five years and low indigenous production, Pakistan’s oil sector offered vast opportunities for investment.

Investment Minister Waqar Ahmed Khan, Board of Investment Chairman Saleem H. Mandviwala, Special Petroleum Secretary G.A. Sabri, Secretary Investment Tariq Iqbal Puri and Secretary General Salman Faruqui and Ambassador of Argentina Carlos Bulgheroni attended the meeting.

Upper Dir

Later, the president handed over to Najmuddin Khan, the Minister for State and Frontier Region, and MPA M. Anwar Khan a cheque for Rs11.2 million for the victims of Friday’s suicide blast in a mosque in Upper Dir.
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Zardari urges PIA to develop corporate culture

President Asif Zardari on Thursday ordered the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to develop a corporate culture to turn the national flag carrier into a profitable venture. He was talking to office-bearers of the Pakistan Airlines Pilots Association (PALPA) and PIA Managing Director Ejaz Haroon. Zardari was informed that the PIA management was taking necessary steps for the welfare of pilots. The PALPA members said their salaries were low compared to other developing countries and said they were prepared to negotiate the salary structure with the management without disrupting the service.
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PPP Calls for Nationalisation of KESC

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party has joined a call for nationalising the Karachi Electric Supply Company accusing its private management of having failed to streamline generation and produce sufficient power.

In a statement issued here on Friday, PPP’s deputy secretary general Senator Mian Raza Rabbani said: ‘The federal government is called upon to ask Nepra as a regulator of public utility to nationalise KESC as it has failed to perform according to standards set by it and appoint an operator, for a variety of reasons.’

Mr Rabbani said: ‘The Pakistan People’s Party had opposed the privatisation of KESC but the same was carried out by the PML-Q government and its coalition partners.

Rabbani said that KESC had failed to perform and, therefore, the government should appoint an operator, for the following among other reasons;

The service quality and the systems under new management are going down; the total quantum of electricity generated by the KESC is on the decline; no new investment into KESC or the system is made (in violation of the sale deed); at the time of privatisation, it was promised that the management will invest $361 million to improve the system which till date has not been done and the government of Pakistan has given a right of Rs40 to 50 billion and yet the KESC has failed to perform.
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IDPs challenge being dealt on war footing: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said fulfilling the basic needs of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) was the government’s foremost priority, and said the challenge was being dealt on war footing basis.

In his opening remarks while chairing the National Economic Council, the Prime Minister said the rehabilitation of over two million IDPs would be done with due responsibility.

Gilani said there was a need to move economy to the path of stable growth and also remove structure imbalances and economic disparities.

He said the government would use the financial assistance and support by the Friends of Democratic Pakistan and from other bilateral and multilateral sources in an efficient, effective and transparent manner.

The Prime Minister stressed for moving from short term economic responses to a broader well-defined medium term development strategy.

He termed the people of Pakistan as great asset, and said investing in them by providing best quality education, health and social protection services would bring high returns.
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Zardari to chair meeting on security today

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari will chair a high-level meeting on the country’s security situation today (Monday) to formulate a cohesive response to counter the Taliban’s intensified campaign.

Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the meeting had been convened on the president’s directive given during his visit to Karachi. “The meeting will review the security situation in the wake of the operation against the Taliban in Swat,” he said. The meeting will also review the threat of Talibanisation, as they have been targeting civilians and security officials in major cities following their defeat in Swat.

Militants attacked a building of law enforcement agencies on Wednesday in Lahore and killed at least 27 people. On Thursday, they struck in Peshawar and DI Khan, and killed nine people. Islamabad went on high alert on Friday and the police checked all vehicles and individuals at the city’s entry and exit points. In Rawalpindi, the police arrested 73 suspects on Saturday.

The federal ministers concerned, all provincial chief ministers, NWFP governor, Azad Kashmir prime minister, Northern Areas chief executive, interior secretary, all chief secretaries, all inspectors general of police, Inter-Services Intelligence director general and Intelligence Bureau director general will attend the meeting. Intelligence chiefs will brief the participants on the threat posed by terrorists, including their major targets. They will also give a briefing on the issue of Punjabi Taliban and the presence of Taliban in Karachi. sajjad malik
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Students Helping IDPs | PSF KARACHI FUUAST

To minimise the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), people especially Students from Fedaral Urdu University (FUUAST) Karachi Gulshan Campus have been extending all out help for the suffering Pakistanis who are forced to vacate their areas in Swat, Buner and Malakand and are living in miserable condition.

Relief camps is being established students of Peoples Students Federation (PSF). In the Federal Urdu University, relief camp is set up in and people are donating cash, blankets and many other essential items with great enthusiasm for the their brothers and sisters hailing from troubled areas of Swat and Malakand.

It was agreed that all universities would join hands in this day to mobilise all possible resources for IDP especially the students.
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Relief Camp of PSF at FUUAST For Swat IDP's

KARACHI: Relief goods are being pooled at the relief camp set by the Peoples Student Federation "Federal Urdu University Karachi Gulshan Campus– The largest student wing of Pakistan And Pakistan Peoples Party.

Students to donate for their fellow countrymen with a national spirit on the call of PSF ‘to come forward and help.’

They donated goods included food items, medicines, clothes, water coolers, fans, books and other essentials besides toys for children.

The students said the nation should unite for the cause of providing every possible support and help to the affected of Malakand.

The Camp was Managed By Members of Organizing Commatie :
Wasim Yaar Gilgiti
Faisal Ilyas Khan
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CS Seeks Report Against Private Schools Fees

Karachi: Chief Secretary (CS) Sindh, Fazalur Rehman while taking note of parents' complaints against private schools has instructed secretary education to furnish report within a week for increase in fee of private schools, illegally taking fee for two months during summer holidays. The CS said that private schools were charging fee for summer holidays, which was violation of rules and "could not be tolerated." The parents in their letter to the CS said that substandard quality eatables were being provided at canteens of private schools whose rate was also high as compared to the market price. Besides syllabus books, note books and other goods including uniform were of low quality and were being provided at higher rates. The News
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Indecent remarks about girl leads to clash between PSF and IJT

KARACHI: Over eight students received minor injuries when members of two student organisations, the Peoples Students Federation (PSF) and Islamia Jamiat Tuliba (IJT), clashed at the Federal Urdu University for Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST).

According to eyewitnesses, some PSF activists allegedly passed indecent remarks about a female student of the university and the IJT activists stopped them. This led to a clash between the two organizations, in which both party members freely used rods and pelted each other with stones, injuring a total of eight.

Following the brawl, FUUAST Abdul Haq Campus echoed with the noise of heavy aerial firing. A Mass Communication Department student told this scribe that he was studying in his class when he heard the two organizations clashing. After that, the whole campus echoed with firing that harassed the students in the university.

However, the situation was controlled when the university teachers interfered, compelling both sides to settle their problems in a reconciliatory meeting.

The injured include Bakhtiar, Muhammad Hashim, Waqar Ali, Abdul Sattar of IJT and Nadir Shah and Farhan from PSF. According to Risala Police Station officials, an FIR has been registered under Sections 147, 148, 149, 324, 337-A and 353 of the Pakistan Penal Code against unknown culprits for firing in the university campus. The officials said that the injured were shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for treatment and added that no arrests were made over the incident.

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Admissions to KU Evening Programme began

Admissions to KU Evening Programme began
Karachi: The Directorate of Evening Programme of the University of Karachi (KU) is initiating admissions process 2009-10 from June 2 (today) for MS two-year Masters and Diploma Programmes.

Minimum qualification for applying for the courses is a second division graduate degree. Admission forms will be issued and received up till June 10 at the United Bank Limited (UBL) Silver Jubilee Gate while the list of successful candidates will be announced on June 22. The claim forms will be issued from June 22 to June 24 and will be displayed at the Evening Programme Directorate on June 26. The fees will be collected from June 24 to 26 at the Directorate of Evening Programme. The classes will start on July 1.

Director of Evening Programme, Prof. Dr M. Abuzar Wajidi is confident that these courses will help professionals enhance their skills and qualification. "The fee structure is quite affordable and more subsidised than any other university. Since its inception in May 1995, the Evening Programme has so far produced approximately 16,000 graduates and Masters who are engaged in respectable and responsible positions," he informed. The News

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Privatisation of educational institutions Opposed

Privatisation of edu institutions opposed
Karachi: After the deterioration of education in public schools, now the education in government colleges is being targeted to promote private institutions in the city.

Use of unfair means in the colleges is a great conspiracy against such institutions in the province while the future of around 6,00,000 students, studying in the public colleges in Sindh, is at the stake. Capitalists, running business in the education sector, in association with corrupt politicians and bureaucrats of Sindh Education Department are trying to target the college teachers by adding their service problems so that the education at private colleges can be encouraged. These views were expressed by central leaders of Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association (SPLA), while talking to The Nation on Sunday.

SPLA central leader Professor Ather Hussain Mirza said that the colleges in the province had become vulnerable due to negligence of authorities concerned; similarly the college teachers were suffering with low salaries and low job security, despite the role of the teachers in uplifting the society. He said, "At the time of the partition (1947) there were only four colleges in the province, including SM Science College, DJ Sindh Government Science College, Govt College Hyderabad Kalimore, and Govt C & S College Skiharpur. Now the province has 248 public colleges out which 124 colleges are situated only in the metropolis. Government colleges have great reputation as compare to schools, but corrupt elements wanted to promote private college education in the province. The colleges teachers are considered as the major hurdle and stumbling block in term of privatising the colleges; that is why they are being targeting and deprived of basic service rights, including health insurance, job confirmation, housing project, up-gradation and increase in salaries.

Talking about the use of unfair means, he alleged that corruption was deliberately introduced in 1972 on community basis to defame education in the government colleges, while at the outset Hindu Community had spent huge funds to get cleared their students in the examinations. It is pertinent to mention here that the cheating mafia, backed by some students' political wings, has threatened the teachers of some colleges for dire consequences during the currently held HSC examinations.

Assistant Prof Yaqoob Chandio said that Sindh Education Department was giving priority to junior over senior teachers, as in the majority colleges of Sindh. Junior teachers are working as in-charge principal, which is contrary to the service laws, he said, adding that college education was being targeted deliberately as 80 per cent colleges in the province are working under the supervision of junior teachers. The Nation

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Results of Test for PST Post

Hyderabad: The Sindh University Testing Centre announced the results of the test conducted on May 19 for the post of primary school teachers (PSTs).

The results announced are of female candidates of Jacobabad and both male and female of Ghotki district.

The results of both male and female candidates of Benazirabad conducted on May 31 for the post of PSTs were also notified.

Candidates are advised to visit university website www.usindh.edu.pk/sutc for their results. Dawn

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Karachi University MA Exams's Schedule | Manhandling of Teachers

Karachi University MA exams from June 15
Karachi, May 06: The University of Karachi (KU) Examination Department has announced that annual examination 2008 of MA Previous and Final (Regular & External) will commence from June 15 instead of notified already mentioned date, May 25, 2009.

BS exams rescheduled
Karachi: The University of Karachi has announced that terminal examinations of BS first and second years have been rescheduled.

According to the Dean of Arts Faculty Dr Mohammad Shamsuddin, the university has decided to postpone the exams scheduled for May 12. Now the exams would be conducted on June 1, he said, adding that timings of exams would remain unchanged.

BEd suppl exams
Karachi: The University of Karachi has notified that forms of BEd supplementary exams 2008 will be accepted with a late fee of Rs700 along with the original fee of Rs2,300 from May 7 to 9. Candidates have been advised to submit the forms in their respective colleges. Ppi

FUUAST BA, B.Com and MA (Private) improving of division forms
Karachi: Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST) has announced the form submission date for BA, B.Com and MA (Private) annual examination 2008 for the candidates interested in improving their division.

The forms can be received and submitted till May 18, 2009. A FUUAST communique further stated that candidates interested in improving division are to take examination of all the papers of Part-II, while they can take examination of any paper of Part-I. The News

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Taliban Kidnap Cadets | HEC Recognise Dr Atta's Services

Taliban kidnap over 500 Students

Peshawar, June 02: Tribal militants kidnapped over 500 students of the Razmak Cadet College from the Bakkakhel Frontier Region, Bannu, adjacent to the North Waziristan tribal region, on Monday, according to government and police officials.

"This is a serious development and will have far-reaching repercussions," a senior security official said.

Details were sketchy but the official said that 33 vehicles had started off from Razmak, with 540 cadets, teaching staff and their families after the principal of the college ordered its closure amid apprehensions about an impending military operation against militants.

Officials acknowledged that in accordance with an agreement with the government, local militants affiliated with Commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur in Miramshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan, had escorted the vehicles, along with Khasadars, till the tribal region's boundary with F.R. Bannu.

"The vehicles were waylaid by armed militants in the Bakkakhel area and commandeered towards Marwat Canal," the official said.

Police said that some women and children were later freed. But, the militants carrying rockets, grenades and automatic machine guns boarded the vehicles and commandeered them to some unspecified place.

Another coach, carrying 17 people, including 10 students, a librarian and a doctor, managed to reach the Miryan police station in Bannu. They were later escorted to the Cantonment police station for their onward journey to their destinations, the police official said.

The number of those kidnapped varied, but one official put the figure at close to 518, including cadets and members of the teaching staff.

District Police Officer of Bannu Iqbal Marwat, however, said that 67 cadets had managed to reach the police, while over 400 were missing.

"The Taliban are behind the kidnapping," Mir Sardar, Assistant Sub-Inspector of the Miryan police station, told The New York Times by phone from Bannu.

Marwat Canal leads to South Waziristan's Spinkay, through Frontier Region Tank, linked up by a nullah frequently used by militants to bypass security checkposts.

Gul Bahadur, leader of the Ittehad-i-Shura Mujahideen, North Waziristan, has wide influence in Bakkakhel and some officials believe that the kidnapping could not have taken place without his blessing.

"He thinks that he can hoodwink us by escorting these students and teachers to fulfil his commitment not to harm them in his area of influence and then have them kidnapped from Bakkakhel. But we all know whose people operate in Bakkakhel," the official said.

He said that three militant commanders -- Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan leader Baitullah Mehsud, Maulvi Nazir in South Waziristan and Hafiz Gul Bahadur -- had forged an alliance to help each other in the event of a military operation.

Citing recent reports, the official said that Maulvi Nazir who didn't trust the TTP leader, had sent men to fight for him against any possible military operation.

"They are all one," the security official said. He said the kidnapping would have far-ranging consequences since most of those kidnapped belonged to the federally administered tribal regions.

Security officials said that militants from all over the tribal region were converging on the Mehsud part of South Waziristan amid reports that a military operation was imminent.

There has been an increase in clashes between militants and security forces in the Mehsud territory after the military made inroads for what it calls 'readjustments' to link up vital communication network.

Baitullah Mehsud warned of attacks if troops do not withdraw from his area, after a jirga failed to mediate between him and the tribal administration.

Officials said that the militant leader would like to use the kidnapped students to secure the release of his comrades under detention and force the government to not only withdraw its forces from the region but also halt the military operation.

The political administration in F.R. Bannu and North Waziristan has tasked a jirga of tribal elders to locate the kidnapped cadets and staff members and secure their early release, the official said. Dawn

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Exiled Student leader wants to Return Home

Karachi: Jeay Sindh Students Federation (JSSF) student leader Qadir Bux Jatoi, who was forced into exile 28 years ago during Ziaul Haq's tenure, has contacted the Sindh High Court (SHC) and alleged in his application that the exile and military court were illegal, so he should be allowed to return to his homeland.

As a result, the SHC bench, comprising Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Bin Yamin Khan, issued notices to the federal home secretary, provincial home secretary, Hyderabad jail superintendent and the military court on Wednesday. Jatoi, who has been in Sweden for the past 28 years, has filed a petition through Barrister Zameer Ghumro. He has alleged that he and Ali Haider Shah were wrongly accused of hijacking a Pakistan International Airlines flight in 1981 and then forcibly sent to Damascus. The applicant further said that he and Shah were also blamed for the student riots at Sindh University, Mehran University and Liaquat Medical College, Jamshoro. The riots ensued after soldiers misbehaved with Shireen Soomro, a student of the Peoples Medical College, Nawabshah. During the protests, an army vehicle was attacked, leaving one soldier dead and two injured.

The applicant also claimed that he and Shah were arrested in 1978, within two months of the riots, and the military court sentenced Shah to 25 years in prison, while Jatoi received 14 years.

In his petition, Jatoi said that the PIA airplane was hijacked during their time in prison and as per the demands of the hijackers, he and Shah were sent to Damascus. It is important to mention that many student leaders during those protests have gone on to secure important positions in the government, media and judiciary. Prominent amongst them are present Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza, Khadim Lakhair, Abdullah Arain, Khan Muhammad Laghari, Ghulam Nabi Khushk, Nazar Muhammad Junejo, Abu Bakar Zardari, Mataro Daheri, Shabir Lakho, Ghazi Salahuddin, Sarfaraz Memon, Inayatullah Hisbani and certain others. Daily Times
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FUUAST Announces last Date for Registration

Controller of Examinations, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology (FUUAST) has announced that the last date for the submission of registration fee for the B.A., B.Com and MA (External) candidates is June 30. The students who have passed their last examination in 2008 are eligible for the registration.
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Karachi University Students And Unions Protest Against HEC Decision

Karachi: Tanzeem-e-Asatza Pakistan (TAP) University of Karachi (KU) has roundly condemned the Higher Education Commission (HEC) for its actions, that they believe are tantamount to killing education in Pakistan. They appealed to President Zardari to bail out the universities from the current financial crunch.

The KU teachers vented their anger against the HEC in a protest demonstration held in front of the administration building. A number of teachers from various departments of the university attended the demonstration, and heard their colleagues speaking against the policies of HEC.

Dr Rafeeq Alam Khan, Department of Pharmacology Chairman, criticised the cut in the aid for the KU that had produced a strong reaction amongst teachers. "The reduction in the grant has resulted in the dwindling supply of lab equipments and chemicals, thus decreasing research opportunities. The KU administration is adopting policies which are not conducive to the welfare of the university. Two finance directors are eating our resources, while academic activities are affected", Dr Khan said.

President TAP Dr Junaid Sagheer Siddiqui, Dr Hisamuddin Mansoori, Prof Ishaq Mansoori and Dr Shafeequr Rahman were also present at the occasion.

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Photos of the Programme of Ajoka Theatre Group from Pakistan in JNU on 23rd December, '08

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