Executive District Officer (EDO) Education, Fakhr Karim, who was transferred as Additional Secretary, Education, on Tuesday, received another notification asking her to continue at her previous post as the EDO Education till further notice.

Karim, while confirming this to The News, said that she was waiting for her new assignment but was re-posted as the EDO Education as the department needed her services there. On Tuesday, Roshan Ara Syed was made the EDO Education but her notification was withdrawn, as the authorities concerned, termed it as a notification in ‘haste’. A source said that Karim had a high-level backing which favoured her to continue as the EDO. Syed, whose cancellation order as Principal of Comprehensive College, North Nazimabad, was notified is waiting for another posting since no other notification was issued by the competent authority.

The last minute change in the notification of Karim has raised many questions, as the officials in the education department are conspicuous of the situation saying that though many irregularities were witnessed especially in the recruitment of primary schools teachers of grade five to seven, still she enjoys supports of her high-ups. It must be mentioned here that about 9,000 jobs for the post of primary school teachers and junior school teachers were lying vacant across the province and the tests for these posts were held in 2006. About 13,000 candidates appeared in the tests and none received any appointment letters. In fact, candidates out of these who had the backing of the coalition partners of that time were given offer letters.

Although the tests were declared null and void by the present government, the same power sharing formula continues with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) having 60 per cent and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) 40 per cent in the appointments of teachers.

The withdrawal of Karim’s transfer order is being linked to the fact that she, being the focal person for adjustment of the allocated share between the allied partners, was asked to continue with the same post.