PHC issues notices as Upper Dir nazim running own school in govt building

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has put on notice secretary Education Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, deputy commissioner and Executive District Officer Schools and Literacy of Upper Dir, directing to explain under what law district nazim is running a private school in a building of a Government Girls’ High School by dislodging students to another government school through an agreement.

A PHC Darul Qaza Bench comprising Justice Muhammad Ghazanfar Khan and Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Khan issued the notice to respondent officials to explain as why over 1000 girls students of the Fatima Girls Model High School, Dir Upper, were shifted and restricted in four rooms in another school by getting vacated the 16 rooms government school given on a lease to district nazim for business purpose.

The bench issued the notice in a writ petition filed by Imran Saeed, President, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Malakand Region, and a lawyer, Ibadur Rehman, through their lawyers Muhammad Amin Khattak Lachi and Ibrahim Shah.

During argument, the counsel for the petitioners, submitted that the EDO Schools

and Literacy of Dir Upper entered into a lease agreement on July 1, 2004 between the government through EDO and management of the Fatima Girls Model High School, Dir Upper for a mere Rs4,500 per month rent. The lawyer contended that the private school is run by the owner Sahibzada Fasihullah (District Nazim) for own business purpose.

He submitted that the district administration from time to time issued letters and conducted inquiry into awarding a government school on a lease and directed the owners to vacate the school for the girls’ students of Dir Khas, but in vain.

The lawyer stated that now the district administration was demanding vacation of the school as education of the girl students was being affected. There are 1000 students receiving education in four rooms of another school.

In 2013, assistant director of the Planning and Development Department issued a letter to DEO of Dir Upper for vacation of the building of the government school for the girls’ students of the area.

The department in the letter suggested actions to the competent authority of the Elementary and Secondary Education Department. It asked the DEO to take action and get the school building vacated as there was no renewal of the lease with the owner.

The DEO was directed to lodge first information report against management of the school for vacating the school building to a private person and shifting the students to another school.

It was also stated that disciplinary action may be taken against the officers/officials who were responsible for the non-renewal of the agreement on annual basis.

The petitioners prayed to the court to declare the agreement illegal and get the building of the government school vacated from the private school owned by the district nazim.