College principal loses job for upholding principles

ISLAMABAD: Yet another prestigious educational institution of the country, Lawrence College Ghora Gali (LCGG), Murree, is on the verge of collapse because of unnecessary, illegal and illegitimate intervention by some uniformed officers who have not only humiliatingly ousted a respected academician but have also bulldozed the 150-year old discipline and integrity of the institution.
It appears that being honest is a crime in Pakistan as the principal of LCGG, one of the best boarding schools in the country, has been compelled to choose between honesty/principles and the illegal commands of an army general, and the principal chose not to bow before the powerful army officer and resigned.
Details reveal that a student of O-Level, Asim Gerdaizi, had hit another fellow boarder with a hockey stick on March 13, 2013, which resulted in serious head injuries with five stitches. The Lawrence College’s Disciplinary Committee took up the issue and on March 29 and it decided to suspend Qasim Gerdaizi till May 2013 and his case was to be reviewed in May again.
Sources said that when this decision was conveyed to the Board of Directors of the college, the Chairman Executive Committee called the principal, Brig (retd) Hafeez to his office where the principal was not only directed to withdraw the decision of suspension of the boy but was also abused and called names. The sources maintained that upon such an attitude of the army general and illegal demand, the principal LCGG refused straightway.
Before the LCGG administration could settle down after such an attitude by the Chairman Executive Committee of the BoD, two serving Colonels and two Majors were sent to the college from Murree to re-investigate the issue of Asim Gerdaizi.
“This was an attempt by the army to get hold of the college, which otherwise falls in the domain of Punjab Government with Governor Punjab being its head of its BoD”, the sources maintained.
Upon this, the Principal Brig (retd) Hafeez resigned and his resignation was accepted right away. Men in boots were again sent to the LCGG on April 5, 2013 and the principal was asked to leave the college without any delay, the sources added.
Hundreds of students as well as the faculty came out of their dorms to raise voice against this injustice announcing to boycott the classes until the restoration of their outgoing principal. Standing around their beloved Principal who was sent packing by the men in uniform, they chanted slogans in his favour and appealed to the administration not to let go of the man who had been so phenomenal for the institute as well as the students at large. However, the principal had to leave because those who have the guns decided to oust him.
The matter did not end there. The new acting principal restored Qasim Gerdaizi, perhaps burying the prestige and integrity of the College earned since 1860, forever.
Brig (retd) Hafeez when contacted by The News said that he had left the college because he could not bow before the illegal and illegitimate commands of serving officers. He held that could not compromise on the principles and when asked to dither from his principles he had no option but to step down.
This incident clearly depicts that an honest teacher had lost to a student who has connections with an army General, but the bold character of Brig (Retd) Hafeez must have made the soul of Sir Henry Lawrence, the founder of LCGG, proud that till recently, his college was in the hands of a conscientious man.
Reportedly, the top brass of Pakistan Army has taken notice of this issue as well and have ordered an inquiry. Whether they undo the wrong is another matter.The new LCGG administration has told the media that all rules and regulations have been followed in the ouster of ex-principal.