Students, teachers protest as KDA demolishes private school in Karachi

KARACHI: The students and teachers of a private school protested on Friday near the debris of their school that was demolished by Karachi Development Authority Thursday evening

According to the school principal, Noreen, the authority did not give them any prior notice. She added they have all the valid documents of the school.

The principal said the school was constructed on four plots of 120 yards each. She added the property was bought from KDA for over Rs3.5 million.  

However, KDA officials said they did send notices to the school. They claimed the institute was being run on illegal property. The KDA officials told Geo News they had tried to stop construction of the school. 

Initial enquiry suggested the school was built on a Special Type (ST) plot. An ST plot is the one on which commercial activities cannot be held – school or house cannot be built on an ST plot. However, it can be used for welfare work. For instance, a hospital or park can be constructed on it.

When asked, Private Schools Director Mansoob Siddique said the school was not registered with the education department. 

The demolished institute, Ideal Public School, was built 1.5 years back. It was located in Allahwala Town near Korangi crossing. At least 200 students between grades one and nine were getting an education there. 

In April, an over eight-decade-old school in Garden East, Jufel Hurst Government School, was razed to the ground.

Locals had said people belonging to the land mafia came to the area late at night and bulldozed the building.

Before it was demolished, over 1,000 children were getting an education here. These children belonged to different age groups as classes were held between primary and secondary levels.