RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The lawmakers in the Senate on Friday lambasted Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) management for printing a controversial question paper, asking the secondary school certificate (SSC) students to explain the ‘personality of their elder sister.’

Senator Hafiz Hamdullah of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), speaking on a point of public importance called upon the government to tighten the noose around the AIOU administration, Islamabad, for the controversial question.

He said that a question in SSC examinations of AIOU asking students to describe the ‘personality of their elder sister’ has put the whole country to shame. The question appeared in the Function English-II exams for spring semester 2016.

According to the senator, the question could be a willful attempt by the so-called liberals to tarnish the image of the country. He said that the question asked the students to describe the ‘age, physique, height, looks, attitude and other characteristics of his/her elder sister.’

“How the AIOU administration would feel if we ask them to describe the features of their wives,” said the JUI-F senator, demanding the chair to take serious action against the university for preparing such a ‘vulgar’ question paper.

Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani also said that such kind of vulgar question is not acceptable, and the issue must be investigated. “This is not liberalism, as it is something which cannot be ignored,” he added.

State Minister for Education and Professional Training Engineer Balighur Rehman said that the government has already initiated action against those who prepared the question paper, adding the vice-chancellor has been directed to thoroughly investigate the matter.

“A board has already been constituted to probe the matter, and all students will be given marks against the question whether or not they’ve attempted it, and it will be ensured that such things must not be repeated next time,” he maintained.

The government also drew flak from senators who deplored deportation of teachers working for Pakistan-Turk School, a network of schools Ankara wants shut as it believes that the schools are operated by US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen who was behind the July 15 failed coup attempt in Turkey.

Senator Mohsin Aziz of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said that the schools were registered in 1995 under an NGO, and since the schools have been funded by a Turkish businessman.

He said that 28 schools are working across Pakistan, where some 11,000 students are getting quality education. He added, “The thing which we must acknowledge is that 50 per cent students of these schools come from poor family background.”

“We do want good relations with Turkey but it must not be at the cost of our sovereignty…it should be clear to everybody that we have an independent foreign policy and no one can dictate us,” he further said.

Senator Ahmed Hassan of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said that the teachers had no criminal record, and deporting them in such a humiliating manner on the one phone call is not acceptable.

“What is the fault of the Turkish teachers who have been working here since long, and the way they are working with dedication is commendable. But what we are doing with them is quite shameful,” he added.

State Minister for Education and Professional Training Engineer Balighur Rehman had nothing satisfactory to say except repeating the rhetoric that it is prerogative of the state whether or not to extend visas to foreigners.

He said, “After Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his recent address to the joint sitting of the Parliament, accused US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen for the bloody coup attempt, we have no option but to refuse visa extension to all Turkish teachers.”

The House was prorogued sine die.