KARACHI: The students of the demolition school in Soldier Bazar area were compelled on Monday to sit on the debris of the razed classrooms to take classes. The children vowed to save their school building, which was razed by land mafia on Saturday night with the support of area police, from land mafia at any cost.
As per details, land mafia reportedly accompanied by area police razed two class room of Jufelhurst School in Soldier Bazaar in a bid to grab the precious land of the school, which is also a protected heritage site declared by Cultural Department.
School Principal Muhammad Shafiq said that when they reached the school and try to stop them from demolishing the building, they hurled life threats.
On Monday, when the children reached their school they found two of its classrooms razed. They took classes under open sky while sitting on the rubble of classrooms.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of razing the school building and has sought report from Secretary Education and Secretary Culture separately. Following the CM notice, Secretary Education has decided to lodge FIR against the land mafia and a letter was sent to IGP Sindh AD Khwaja.
Meanwhile, IGP Sindh AD Khwaja during a ceremony at Saeedabad Police Training Centre said that the demolished school was a protected heritage site, saying that those involved in its demolition would not be spared.
Deputy Mayor Arshad Vohra after visiting the affected school on Monday said that MQM would submit a resolution against land mafia in Sindh Assembly. He added that land mafia attempted to grab land of a school, which is a protected site. He demanded of the government to declare demolition of school as a crime against the nation.
He also criticized the provincial government for its lack of attention on education and health sectors. He announced that KMC would reconstruct the school and sought help from the provincial government.
On the other hand, IGP Sindh while taking notice of the news that area police provided protection to the mafia in demolition of the school appointed Additional IG Aftab Pathan as inquiry officer. He ordered Pathan to investigate the matter and submit report within three days.
It is to be mentioned here that a lady named Jufelhurst had donated land for the school in 1928. According to reports, the building was also declared a heritage site by the Sindh Culture Department.
