KARACHI: All private schools and colleges in Sindh will remain closed on January 9 after the Grand Alliance of Private Schools Associations announced a complete strike against the involvement of the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) in their affairs.
In this regard, the association leaders Haider Ali, Shahzad Akhtar, Tariq Shah, Anwar Bhatti, Danish-uz-Zaman, Nasir Zaidi and others addressed a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Monday.
While highlighting the serious problems faced by private educational institutions across Sindh, the association members expressed their serious concerns and reservations about the verification operations being carried out in schools by the ACE.
They demanded that the chief minister of Sindh implement the court decision against anti-corruption operations in schools.
They said that education is the basic need of the country but unfortunately, millions of children in Sindh are still out of school. It is in this kind of a situation that private educational institutions are providing education to millions of children while charging “very reasonable fees” despite their limited resources.
Reject inspection of schools by ACE to verify freeship
They said that they have also waived fees for many children as part of their social responsibility. As per the decision of the Sindh High Court bench on December 8, 2025, Anti-Corruption was given the responsibility of verifying the freeship lists submitted by regional directors, after which the Anti-Corruption teams started inspecting the schools directly.
They pointed out that the practice is against the Sindh Private Institutions Act of 2013 as under this law, the Directorate of Private Institutions is the only authorised regulatory body to look into such matters. Therefore, such interference by any other institution is illegal and unnecessary.
The speakers of the press conference also expressed their concern about there being a number of female teachers and young children in educational institutions to whom the investigative actions of Anti-Corruption are causing fear, mental stress and anxiety.
It was pointed out that the entry of armed personnel into schools in a specific manner is not at all suitable for the educational environment, while parents are also facing severe problems due to unnecessary questions and answers and demands for details, although complete data and undertakings by the parents and lists by schools have already been provided to the relevant institutions.
Such actions are also affecting the reputation of renowned educational institutions, welfare organisations and private schools that have been serving the public for decades and have played a significant role in the education sector despite difficult circumstances.
The speakers made it clear that if there is any flaw or mistake at the individual level, it is unfair to use it against the entire private education sector.
The Grand Alliance leaders strongly demanded that the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah play an immediate role, understanding the sensitivity of the situation, and instruct the ACE to adopt a dignified and effective approach to implement the decision of the esteemed court, in which the verification process should be completed through the Directorate of Private Institutions and direct visits to schools should be avoided.
Finally, while informing about their future course of action, the speakers said that a new application will be filed in the esteemed court to stop the ongoing verification process by the Anti-Corruption.
Plans for joint protests were also shared on the occasion. Parents and school administrations in all districts of Sindh will hold protests from Jan 6 to 8. Private educational institutions across Sindh will also observe a black day on Jan 8. Finally, all private schools and colleges across Sindh will also observe a complete strike on Jan 9.
Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2026.
