SHC CJ orders inquiry over media reports about absent teachers, closed public schools

The chief justice of the Sindh High Court (SHC) Justice Mohammad Ali M Sheikh on Tuesday directed the district and sessions Judges of Tando Mohammad Khan, Mithi, Khairpur and Kashmore to conduct an inquiry into news reports regarding closure of schools and absence of teachers at government-run institutes.

The chief justice also took notice of news reports published in the print media regarding corruption in affairs of the Baitul Mal and directed the district and sessions judge of Sukkur to conduct an inquiry into the matter.

According to media reports, one blind person Akbar Almani staged a demonstration outside the Sukkur Press Club against corrupt officials of Baitul Mal. This is the second notice that the high court’s chief justice has taken with regard to the condition of Sindh’s government schools.

On August 9, the CJ took suo motu notice of a news report regarding lack of basic facilities in Sindh’s schools. He also sought a detailed report to this effect, from secretary education Sindh within a week. 

The report published in a local newspaper maintained that schools had a shortage of teachers, students, whereas the condition of the schools’ premises and boundary walls and other facilities was extremely poor.

The chief justice had directed the secretary education to submit a comprehensive report explaining the utilisation of funds allocated and spent on the repair and maintenance of schools within a week.

NAB inquiries

The SHC directed the National Accountability Bureau Sindh’s director general to submit details of inquiries pending before it since the last two years. The directive was issued during the hearing of a bail petition of a man suspected of facilitating illegal appointments in the Federal Board of Revenue.

The court observed that those illegally appointed are facing inquiries but the officials who appointed them are roaming freely. The court also took exception over performance of NAB’s investigation officers for causing a delay in completing their pending inquiries and investigations.

Women convicted in UAE

The SHC directed the federal law officer, ministry of foreign affairs and others to inform the court of efforts being taken to repatriate Pakistani women convicted and imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

The court was hearing an application filed by the Sarim Burney Trust. According to the petitioner, prisoners including Shamim Akhtar, Fashola Rohi and Sehrish Kazmi were sentenced for 25 years, whereas Nazia Jahangir, Taiba Rani, Asma Ghulam and Sajida Farzand were sentenced for 15 years in prison by the UAE authorities for different offences.

The counsel of the petitioner submitted that despite an agreement - carried out by the then interior minister Rehman Malik in February 2012 - to transfer prisoners between the two countries, nine Pakistani women were still jailed in the UAE and no practical efforts were being made to pursue the agreement.

He argued that Articles 4, 9, 14 and 35 of the Constitution stated that no person could be deprived of life and liberty except in accordance with the law, whereas the responsibility to protect such families lay with the state.

The counsel added that under Article 8 of the agreement, a convict could be transferred if they were a national of the administrating state. He requested the court to order concerned authorities to immediately transfer all female prisoners from UAE to Pakistan.