Karachi:Ten-year-old Nadir Khan alias Shani, son of a wood polisher/painter became the victim of a madrassa teacher recently.

While talking to The News, Shani said that his Qari at Makki Masjid, Pakistan Chowk, where he had enrolled just one week earlier, used to make this him wash all the pots and pans and sweep the floors of the multi-storeyed mosque.

“He has been beating me since the first day of my joining but the beating was such that it did not leave any scars. This time he went overboard because I had not learnt my lesson correctly.” According, to Shani, the Qari first slapped him and then punched the boy on his chin. As if that wasn’t enough, the boy was further punished with a ‘Madani chaddar’ tied around his waist by which he was hung. “Then he tied one of my legs to a peg so that my legs were dangling in the air,” he explained. Traumatised, Shani – his voice shaking and his hands trembling – added that the Qari went on to hit him with a cane wrapped in tape, because of which he sustained injuries to his left elbow, right cheek, back, thighs and legs. “When one of the students tried to protect me, the Qari pushed him away and continued to beat me. I bled from several places.’

Giving details of his schedule at the madrassa, the 10-year-old explained that he would go there at 8.00 a.m., clean the place and then run up the stairs to summon other students. There was a break from 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. Students commenced their studies at 2.00 p.m. and continued till 4.00 p.m.

The madrassa is run by a trust, therefore, it is the perfect alternative for those belonging to low-incomes groups. Interestingly enough, Shani still likes school and would love to go to one. However, after incidents such as these, one can only wonder what nightmares may keep him from enjoying a normal educational experience.
Source: The News
Date:7/23/2007