Private educators protest final eviction notice

Rawalpindi: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Private Schools and Colleges Association, Rawalpindi Wednesday blocked Murree Road in protest against Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) and Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) for final eviction notices.

The RCB and CCB had issued notices to private educational institutions established in the residential areas across the cantonment limits to vacate buildings within 15 days otherwise strict action will be taken against them.

The protesters blamed RCB and CCB of harassing private schools and allowing other commercial activities to be run in the residential areas at the same time. The demonstrators carrying placards and banners also arranged a temporary class in the room of Rawalpindi Press Club. The protesters appealed to the Supreme Court of Pakistan to save education in the country.

The members of the Action Committee also announced to stage sit-in on May 9, 2018 at Committee Chowk by closing all educational institutions of Rawalpindi and Islamabad which will be a mark of protest against the action of the two civic bodies.

They also warned authorities concerned to revoke the decision otherwise they will also stage a ‘sit-in’ along with their families at D-Chowk. A heavy contingent of police was present on the occasion to avoid law and order situation.

Addressing the protesters, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Private Schools and Colleges Association, Rawalpindi office-bearers said that there were around 1,200 schools in cantonment board limits where more than 500,000 students were studying. “Over 60,000 teaching and non-teaching staff is working in these private institutions. But, RCB and CCB issued notices to all educational institutions to shut down within 15 days or face the music,” he said.

The protesters said that the Supreme Court in its verdict had ordered the concerned civic bodies for transferring school buildings from residential areas of Cantonment instead of closing them on permanent basis. The apex court had also directed the RCB and CCB to establish Cantonment Schools.

They alleged that although the civic bodies have followed one point of the orders of the apex court which is to establish Cantonment Schools but have made violation of another direction by closing five private schools and converting 2 of them into Cantonment Schools. While converting 5 closed private educational institutions into Cantonment Schools, the civic bodies have also increased their fees. This move is total violation by the civic bodies, the committee members claimed.

On the other hand, Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) and Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) have claimed that they are only implementing the orders of Supreme Court of Pakistan in letter and spirit.

According to RCB spokesman Qaiser Mehmood and CCB Executive Officer Arslan Haider, it was decided by Ministry of Defense and Supreme Court to stop all commercial activities in residential areas. The protesters should contact the Supreme Court of Pakistan in this regard, RCB and CCB officials said. They also said that RCB and CCB not only taking action against private schools but had also issued notices to saloons, clinics, hospitals, commercial shops and plazas established in residential areas.

Qaiser Mehmood also denied that RCB was committing any violation of the orders of the Supreme Court. “Rather we are implementing the verdict of the apex court in letter and spirit,” he said and refuted the claims that two private schools which were closed have been converted into Cantonment institutions.

“We gave specified time to the heads of the private institutions to vacate school building from residential areas . Notices were served to them. When someone approached us RCB gave further time to close down schools in residential areas and vacate the buildings,” he said. All action is being carried out in accordance with the court orders and remaining in the ambit of law, he added.

According to information, there are 1,043 non-confirming properties in the cantonment areas including 165 leased properties and 170 old grant properties. Total 222 schools were established on six leased properties and 216 in private buildings.