In a shocking incident, the Sindh DEPD Secretary slaps senior professor at the Government College of Education in Lyari, Karachi, sparking widespread outrage. The altercation occurred amid a dispute over the college premises’ repurposing, leading to a heated demonstration. Witnesses report that the Secretary, Taha Farooqi, struck the professor in the face after seeing him record the protest. This act has been condemned by educators and civil society members, who are calling for accountability and a formal apology, highlighting the growing tensions between government officials and the educational community.
The altercation occurred when Taha Farooqi visited the college to enforce a provincial government decision to convert the building into a boys’ hostel for students of Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS). Despite a notification for the conversion being issued, the decision was met with resistance from the college’s faculty and students, who staged a protest against the planned move.
Tensions escalated during the demonstration when Taha Farooqi reportedly struck the senior professor in the face. Witnesses say the altercation occurred after the professor was seen recording the protest on his mobile phone. The slap was widely condemned by those present, highlighting a deepening conflict between the educational community and government officials.
The assault on a senior educator by a government official has been seen as a serious breach of professional decorum and respect for the teaching profession. Educators and civil society members have expressed outrage, calling for accountability and a formal apology from the officials involved. The incident has also raised concerns about the handling of disputes involving educational institutions and the rights of teachers and students to peacefully protest government decisions.
In response to the incident, various teachers’ associations and educational bodies have condemned the bureaucrat’s actions, demanding immediate action from the Sindh government. They have called for an independent investigation into the incident and appropriate disciplinary measures against Taha Farooqi.
