LAHORE: All private schools and colleges across Sindh will remain closed on January 9, Friday, following a strike call by the Grand Alliance of Private Schools Associations against ongoing anti-corruption verification drives. The alliance announced the decision during a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Monday.
Alliance leaders, including Haider Ali, Shehzad Akhtar, Tariq Shah, Anwar Bhatti, Danish Zaman, and Nasir Zaidi, said the strike aimed to ensure the dignified implementation of a court order. They also demanded an end to what they described as unlawful interference in the private education sector. According to them, the current verification process has disrupted academic activities and created uncertainty among school administrations.
The leaders referred to a December 8, 2025 verdict by the Sindh High Court Sukkur Bench. Under the ruling, the Anti-Corruption Establishment was assigned to verify free-ship lists submitted by regional directors. However, they alleged that anti-corruption teams exceeded their mandate by conducting direct inspections at private schools.
Concerns over inspections and impact on students
The alliance argued that direct inspections violated the Sindh Private Institutions Act, 2013, which designates the Directorate of Private Institutions as the sole regulatory authority. As a result, they announced that private schools would observe a Black Day on January 8 and file a fresh application in court challenging the verification mechanism.
Furthermore, the leaders said the presence of armed personnel on school premises caused fear and psychological stress among female teachers and minor students. They added that parents also faced unnecessary questioning despite already submitting required data and undertakings.
The associations emphasized that private institutions educate millions of children at affordable fees and provide freeships as part of their social responsibility. They warned that targeting the entire sector for alleged individual lapses damages the credibility of long-standing educational and charitable institutions.
Finally, the alliance urged Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Education Minister Sardar Ali Shah to intervene immediately. They also announced consultative meetings with parents and school administrations from January 6 to 8 across all districts.
