Status of Women Development Complex : IHC to summon interior secretary if report not submitted

Petition seeks rangers’ eviction from vocational training centre.

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday warned that the Ministry of Interior secretary would be summoned, if the respondents failed to submit a report about the status of a vocational training centre for women in Tarlai currently being in possession of the rangers.

During the proceedings, Judge Mohsin Akhtar Kayani remarked that the secretary would be summoned if the authorities fail to comply with court orders by the next day of hearing — June 29.

Previously, the court had directed the Ministry of Interior and the rangers to depute officials who would apprise the court about the status of a vocational training centre and who had allowed rangers stay in the training centre.

In case of failure, the judge had remarked, the respondents would be called in person before the court.

Earlier, the court had issued notices to the Ministry of Interior secretary, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) chief commissioner, Punjab Rangers commandant and Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) mayor on a petition seeking rangers’ eviction from the vocational training centre.

Petitioner Shakeel Ahmed Janjua has filed the petition before the IHC saying that the rangers have been residing in the building for the last three years, after it was closed down.

Janjua through his counsel, Yasir Mehmood Chaudhry, has made Ministry of Interior secretary, ICT chief commissioner, Punjab Rangers commandant and IMC mayor respondents.

In the petition, Chaudhry has stated that the Islamabad chief commissioner had established a Women Development Complex (WDC) in Tarlai Union Council in 1990 to provide vocational training to women of the rural area in the fields of computer, painting, cooking, beautician, and embroidery but suddenly the centre was closed.

He said that the Ministry of Interior and the chief commissioner offices illegally provided the building to Punjab Rangers to use as an accommodation.

Chaudhry said applications were submitted before the Ministry of Interior and the chief commissioner in April for redressal of his grievance but the respondents did not pay any heed.

He said that due to the occupancy of Punjab Rangers, the women of the rural areas of Islamabad were deprived of getting vocational training.

The petitioner said that under the law an educational institute could not be used for any other purpose.

The petitioner has prayed before the court to direct the Punjab Rangers to vacate the WDC and Ministry of Interior and Islamabad chief commissioner may be directed to arrange an alternative place for them.

He has also prayed before the court to direct the respondents to restore the WDC in its original form and again initiate vocational courses for women in the rural areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2016.