Illegal space: Locals piqued over functioning of schools in Cantt

Many of them have signed petitions against institutes

PESHAWAR: Private schools operating illegally in Raffique Lane and the area near Qayyum Stadium, in Peshawar Cantonment, have infringed on the personal space of locals and agitated them through constant noise pollution.

The disturbance piqued the residents to such a degree that they signed a petition, stating illegal operations and disruption caused by commercial activities are not allowed in residential areas as per the law.

The petitioners, including Asmatullah, Ghaniur Rehman, Asaar-e-Asad, Fazal Hassan, Sultan Muhammad, Aneesur Rehman, Fazalur Rehman, Ghulam Murtaza, Zahid Ayaz, Afkar Ahmed and Afsar Shah, submitted a letter with the petition to the station commander and military estate officer of Cantt.

They said the private school mafia has rented houses in their area, without any permission, adding some of the schools included Beacon House School System and The City School.

“We are sick and tired of this illegal business,” Sultan Muhammad, a local, told The Express Tribune. “We do not need a solution – we need the places to be vacated as there are elders and sick people at home [who cannot rest due to the noise].”

Trail of complaints

The agitated locals have said drums are played and musical activities are conducted at the schools regularly. Moreover, the vehicles that students get picked and dropped in keep the streets and roads blocked during the day and even cause accidents and traffic jams in front of houses.

Locals also have to bear with what follows the chaos and uncertainty– fights and arguments among drivers also happen in front of their houses. In addition, the school owners have deployed security guards on roofs of the school buildings, which the locals feel is a breach of their privacy.

Official narrative

When contacted, Primary Education Institutions Management Association President Yawar Naseem did not provide a solution. He told The Express Tribune it was not possible to immediately provide alternative spaces to the schools as over 6,000 students were enrolled in these institutes, including semi-government ones like Presentation Convent High School, Edwardes College, St Mary’s High School and some government schools.

He added it would be a long and tedious procedure to change the location as it has to be kept in mind that studies do not get affected. He said they will first have to find an alternative, start construction of the school buildings and then shift there.

However, the assistant secretary of Peshawar Cantonment Board said the problem was understandable, saying the residents have the right to complain about their inconvenience.

He said the problem would be solved in a short time, saying notices were issued to the principals of the schools and only the final stages were left.

“Soon the schools will be closed down and the locations of the schools will be changed,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2016.