College principal in Karachi thrashed by SP's family

His daughter reached late for her exam, was in the habit of being absent, claim college officials

KARACHI: A simple matter of reaching college late for an exam turned into an ugly incident when the principal of the Government Degree Girls College, North Nazimabad, was beaten up by a student's family members. Parents of the student were called before the incident to provide a reason for their daughter's habitual absence from the college.

Syeda Saman, a student of first-year pre-medical, reached the college at 9am, according to her parents. However, college officials claimed that Saman never entered the college premises.

Instead, Saman left as soon as she was dropped off and came back to college at 11am to appear for her preliminary exam which had already started, the principal of the college, Ghazala Zareen, narrated while fixing her broken glasses.



"When Saman returned at 11am, officials did not allow her to appear for her exam and directed her to see me. On seeing Saman's previous attendance record, I called her parents to ask why their daughter was not able to reach on time for the scheduled paper," said Zareen.

The student's elder sister and mother showed up at the college and on the principal's complaint about Saman, they started yelling at the principal and staff. With the help of their four guards, Saman's family thrashed the principal, breaking her glasses and injuring her forehead.

Saman is SP Ejaz Hashmi's daughter and their family was trying to use their powers wrongly, one of the college teacher's, who was furious over the family's behaviour, told The Express Tribune.



"We will not resume academic activities until the family apologises for their behaviour in writing," said Zareen, adding that Saman and her mother earlier violated the rules regarding adherence to school hours.
Regional Director for Colleges Zameer Khoso also visited the college after the incident and pointed out that such behaviour with teachers and principals will not be tolerated.

"Officer Hashmi's wife and daughter hit the principal. Hashmi himself didn't do it but this is equally condemnable," Khoso told the media, adding that the mother and daughter also slapped the teacher during the altercation.

Gulberg SP Basheer Ahmed reached the college after the incident and said that they will investigate the matter further and have listened to the version of the teachers and principal but will also give the family a chance to explain their side.



"The case can only be pursued after stories from both the parties are heard," Ahmed said.

Meanwhile, Hashmi claimed that the matter has been resolved with mutual consent and both the parties have apologised for their behaviour.

"The principal had personal grudges against my daughter because I complained to the regional director about her [the principal] asking for a bribe to let my daughter clear the practical exams," Hashmi pointed out, admitting that Zareen called him personally to inform him of his daughter's absence from the preliminary exam.

When my wife went to pick up Saman, there was a heated argument between the college officials and her, during which Zareen misbehaved with my family members, said Hashmi, claiming that the principal took away Saman's mobile phone and so his daughter was not able to attend any calls from her family members.

He said that they will not send their daughter back to the college.