School in Karachi closed after hidden cameras found in washrooms

KARACHI: The registration of a private school in Karachi was suspended after its administration failed to explain why it had allegedly installed hidden cameras in the washrooms of the institution.

A teacher of The Haracks School, located in Scheme-33 of Safoora Goth, had approached the provincial education department on November 3 with a complaint, saying she had spotted hidden cameras in the school’s washroom and sought action against the administration, dawn.com reported on Thursday.

Subsequently, an inquiry committee from the education department’s Directorate of Inspection and Registration of Private Institutions visited the school and found hidden cameras installed in the washroom’s walls.

According to an order from the Sindh education department, “Hidden CCTV cameras were installed behind a sheet with holes in the area of the washbasins situated with the toilets of girls and boys/washrooms, so that one can easily watch the movements of male and female students and staff.”

An inquiry committee of the inspection directorate later in the day served a notice on the school administration, asking its principal or senior official to appear before the department on Nov 4 and explain their position.

However, no official from the school turned up in disregard of the orders.

The directorate’s director general Dr Mansoob Hussain Siddiqui subsequently issued the order to suspend the registration certificate granted to the school, under Section-8 (1) (Cancellation or suspension of certificate of registration) of the Sindh Private Educational Institutions (Regulation & Control) Ordinance 2001 (Amended) Act, 2003, with immediate effect.