Zverev suffers shock exit at Montreal Masters

The Sindh government has approved the introduction of a Facial Recognition Attendance Monitoring and Evaluation System (FRAMES) in public schools as part of a broader effort to improve governance, transparency and accountability in the education sector. The decision was taken during a meeting of the School Education Department chaired by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. The meeting was attended by Education Minister Sardar Ali Shah, the chief secretary and other senior government officials. During the meeting, the education minister gave a detailed briefing on the proposed system and informed participants that all technical preparations for its implementation have been completed. He said the project is designed to introduce data-driven governance and improve monitoring of teachers and non-teaching staff across government schools. According to the briefing, the first phase of the project will begin in six districts, with one district selected from each division of Sindh. Registration of teachers and non-teaching employees in these districts has already been completed, paving the way for the system’s launch. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced that the new attendance system will become operational in the selected districts from August 17. If the pilot phase is successful, it will be expanded gradually to all districts across the province. Under the FRAMES system, attendance of teachers and school staff will be recorded through facial recognition technology. Officials said the system will automatically record employees’ arrival and departure times, creating a secure, accurate and tamper-proof attendance record. The education department also informed the meeting that geo-tagging of government schools has been completed. Officials said the system has been designed to function effectively even in remote areas with weak internet connectivity, ensuring uninterrupted monitoring throughout the province. Murad Ali Shah said improving teachers’ attendance is essential for raising educational standards and ensuring quality education for students. He said every child has the right to receive quality education, and achieving that goal requires teachers and school staff to perform their duties regularly and responsibly. The chief minister emphasized that the use of modern technology would strengthen accountability and improve discipline within the education system. He said digital monitoring would help eliminate irregularities, increase transparency and provide education authorities with reliable data for decision-making. He directed officials to establish an effective support and monitoring mechanism during the initial implementation phase. He also instructed the education department to provide schools with all necessary technical assistance and training to ensure the smooth operation of the new system. Officials said information collected through the facial recognition platform will help education authorities evaluate attendance patterns, improve administrative oversight and identify areas requiring further reforms. They added that the initiative is expected to enhance institutional discipline, strengthen governance and improve the overall performance of public schools.

KARACHI: Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed has identified 14 serious deficiencies in the post-mortem examination of Mir Raza Ali and formally raised concerns with the police, calling for a thorough review of the forensic findings. In a letter addressed to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) District East, Dr Summaiya questioned the quality and completeness of the autopsy report prepared by Dr Osama Sheikh. She highlighted several procedural and forensic shortcomings that, according to her, could affect the accuracy and credibility of the investigation. According to the letter, no X-rays were conducted on the body before or during the post-mortem examination. Dr Summaiya stated that such imaging is a standard forensic requirement and can help identify bullet trajectories, fractures and other internal injuries that may not be visible during a routine examination. She further pointed out that no chemical analysis was carried out to determine the presence of gunpowder residue around the entry wound. The absence of such testing, she noted, limits the ability to determine the firing distance and other important forensic details. The police surgeon also stated that the internal examination of the skull and neck was not performed. She said these examinations are essential in cases involving firearm injuries, particularly when determining the exact cause of death and the path of the bullet. Dr Samia’s letter also criticised the documentation process followed during the autopsy. She said no measurement scale was used while recording the injuries, making it difficult to accurately assess the size of the wounds. She added that photographs of the injuries were not taken in accordance with accepted forensic standards. She further observed that the report did not adequately explain the bone characteristics associated with the entry and exit wounds, making the injury assessment incomplete. The letter also highlighted that the nature and stage of decomposition of the body had not been clearly described in the report. According to Dr Summaiya, documenting decomposition is important in estimating the time of death and assessing the condition of the body. Another major concern raised was the reported size of the wounds. The post-mortem report recorded the entry wound as significantly larger than the exit wound, a finding Dr Summaiya described as unusual and requiring immediate re-examination and verification. She also questioned the identification process, stating that although the face of the deceased was reportedly unrecognisable, no DNA sample was collected to scientifically confirm the identity of the body. Dr Summaiya urged the investigating authorities to carefully review the post-mortem findings and address the identified shortcomings to ensure that the forensic investigation meets professional standards and supports a fair and transparent legal process.