Stop political interference in schools: PHC

Court tells QWP lawmaker to stop harassing official

PESHAWAR: Despite claims by the government that political interference in the education sector has been almost eliminated, the top court of the province on Wednesday directed the education department of Charsadda to stop political interference in school affairs.

A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) comprising Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan and Justice Mussarat Hilali was hearing a writ petition filed by Israj Khan, who told the court that a provincial lawmaker from the opposition Qaumi Watan Party (QWP), had  allegedly tortured him, and forced him to employ his sister — studying in ninth grade — and mother  to work in his house.

Israj, who is employed at a government school in Charsadda as a Naib Qasid, had alleged in his petition that the District Education Officer (Female) Sofia Tabassum is supporting MPA Khalid Khan and together they were creating hurdles for him to do his duty.

In his petition, filed by his lawyer Saleem Shah Hoti, Israj accused the MPA and his armed escort of forcibly taking his thumb impression on a resignation paper.

The court summoned Tabassum to explain how can an MPA torture an employee of the school and forcibly obtain their resignation. Moreover, why was the petitioner not provided with any protection against the MPA despite written requests?

“Why did she not act?” the court asked.

In her reply filed before the court on Wednesday, the DEO said that she was not in her office when the applicant might have visited it. She added that the school’s principal told her that the petitioner had been absent for a long time.

The court, however, declared her response as unsatisfactory. “You are responsible to hear the grievances of the staff and to protect them,” the court observed.

The PHC subsequently directed Israj to continue as the Naib Qasid in the school.

The court also warned the QWP lawmaker against interfering in school’s affairs and harassing the Naib Qasid’s family, while directions were issued for the Charsadda DC to ensure the safety of the school’s staff and stop political interference in the school.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2017.