Protest by employees: FBISE chief sent on leave, secretary given charge

Board office to remain open on weekend to facilities students in getting exams slips.

ISLAMABAD:

In a bid to cool down the protesting employees, the education ministry has sent the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) top boss on leave for an indefinite period.

Meanwhile, FBISE Secretary Atiq Ahmad has been given charge to run the board’s affairs till the appointment of a new chairperson.

The move came after the board employees continued their protest against Chairperson Shaheen Khan alleging her to be involved in malpractice.

Khan had been occupying the seat since 2009.

Meanwhile, over 100 private candidates of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams, their parents and teachers were not allowed to enter the board building to get exams slips by the protesting staff, resulting in a clash between them.

They pelted stones at each other and used sticks, as a result, three students sustained minor injuries.

“Only three days are left for the exams but we have yet to get the slips,” said Munib Ali, a private student of class 10th. Ali along with other students had come to the board offices all the way from Rawat.

Examination Controller Sajid Abbasi, who was also protesting against the FBISE chief, claimed that the students had been sent by some elements to sabotage their  peaceful protest.

“We are not sent by anyone and we have our own issues. We do not have time to fight for others,” said Obaid, a teacher from Bhara Kahu.

When the clash turned violent, police were called to control the situation.

Assistant Commissioner Industrial Area Imran Sultan along with a heavy contingent of police reached the spot and brought the situation under control.

The FBISE office will remain open on Saturday and Sunday to facilitate the candidates in getting their examination slips, said an official.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2014.