Moalims

KARACHI:
Amid security threats and safety concerns in the city, DJ Sindh Government Science College has asked the Sindh education secretary, Fazlullah Pechuho, to ensure adequate security at the college.

The principal of the college has written a letter to the secretary, asking him to provide basic security to the college, which is located in the red zone area and is one of the oldest educational institutions in the city. No proper security is in place for the three-building college, which has more than 2,500 students enrolled in the intermediate and graduation classes.

Inspector General orders effective security

“There are only four guards deployed [at the college] while we need at least nine guards to look after the college premises,” said principal of the college, Dr Muhammad Arshad.

Security measures the college is asking for include raised boundary walls, alarm systems, a guard room, barbed wires, metal detectors, CCTV cameras, walk through gates and walkie-talkie sets. “Our college only has one search light and two fire extinguishers,” the principal told The Express Tribune, adding that they do not have any means to protect themselves in the event of a terrorist attack.

There are eight gates in the college, which has three buildings. The letter also demanded that eight guards should be deployed with at least two armed guards to provide satisfactory security to the college. It has also been requested that the government provide arms licences for at least two guards and some professors. The college has the faculty of 62 members.

“Our college is situated in a red zone area where there is VVIP movement and security protocol of ministers every day,” said focal person of the college Professor Shahzad Muslim.

Situated on Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road, DJ Science College is near the Sindh Secretariat and Assembly. “The college was founded in 1887 and is a part of our national heritage, which is why we cannot increase the height of the boundary walls after a specific height,” explained Prof Muslim.

He also said that their basic and immediate demand from the education secretary right now is to provide them with two things – deployment of guards and barbed wires on the fences.

Speaking about the lack of funds, Dr Arshad told The Express Tribune that each student pays a fee of only Rs550 per annum, of which Rs338 goes to the government, while the rest is spent on chalks, dusters, brooms, bulbs and other minor maintenance matters of the college.

Around 1,500 private schools lack security

“We are not demanding the government deploy forces like the Rangers or police at the college but they can deploy private security guards so that the 2,500 students studying in the college can have a sense of security,” the principal explained. The college is coeducational, with more than 1,800 male students.

The letter to the secretary also states that some personnel from the Abdullah Shah Ghazi Rangers Wing visited the college and emphasised the need to increase the college’s security.

Despite repeated efforts, the education secretary was not available for comments.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2016.