Private school fees hinges on SC directives

Former Shahzad Town SDPO challenges inquiry against him


Saqib Bashir July 25, 2019
0.32m children study in the private schools of the federal capital PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: The issue of fees charged by private schools in the federal capital now hinges on a detailed, written order from the Supreme Court (SC) which would help do away with certain perceived discrepancies.

This was observed as a bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), including acting Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, heard an appeal filed by the Private Schools Association Islamabad (PSAI) against the apex regulator of private schools in the federal capital.

During Wednesday’s hearing, the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) submitted a written reply to the court.

While submitting the reply, the counsel for PEIRA stated that until the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) releases a detailed version of its verdict in a case pertaining to excessive fees charged by private schools, private schools in the federal capital should continue to charge fees which they did previously and that if schools do that, they will not take any action against such schools.

At this, the court asked the counsel for PSAI to consult with his clients on PEIRA’s offer.

The lawyer for PSAI, however, contended that the court should first seek a detailed reply from the law ministry on the SC’s order. He further maintained that the particular order by the top court did not apply to the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

Meanwhile, PERIA’s counsel contested the maintainability of the petition.

The court noted that they will only take a decision once the detailed written verdict of the apex court is released.

The authority’s counsel further said that some 325,000 children study in private schools in the federal capital. Furthermore, he said that on the Prime Minister’s Online Complaints Portal, over 3,000 complaints have been filed regarding high fees in private schools of the federal capital.

The case was adjourned until July 30.

SDPO challenges inquiry

A former SDPO of the Islamabad Police on Wednesday filed a petition in the IHC challenging the departmental inquiry initiated against him in the abduction, brutal rape and murder of 10-year-old girl Farishta in the federal capital.

In the petition filed by former DSP Abid Hussain, through his lawyers Raja Rizwan Abbasi and Javed Iqbal Khan, he contended that the inquiry was launched for his alleged misconduct and inefficiency following acts of “omission and commission” by failing to adequately supervise efforts to trace the missing girl or treat it as a kidnapping case which resulted in the delayed registration of the FIR.

Hussain said that the Interior Ministry’s Additional Secretary Captain (retired) Sikandar Qayyum had ordered the inquiry, being his authorised case officer. However, he said that Qayyum had deputed ICT ADCG Dr Waseem to conduct the inquiry.

The inquiry, Hussain said, found that the DSP knew about the child going missing on May 17, two days before the first information report (FIR) of the incident being lodged on May 19.

The inquiry further noted that if the SHO of the relevant police station was reluctant to lodge the FIR, the DSP should have intervened using his powers.

“All these officers one way or the other, directly interacted with the complainant.  Thus, this court recommends that a major penalty shall be imposed on Hussain, the then DSP police Shahzad Town, SHO Abbas Ali and a minor penalty shall be imposed on Raja Ansar Mehmood after following legal and codal formalities.”

Hussain, though, contended that the enquiry conducted and the order passed by the interior ministry official was illegal and arbitrary under facts and circumstances of the case.

Furthermore, he contended that a district magistrate is the competent official to pass an order to conduct an inquiry. He insisted that he had ordered the SHO to immediately register an FIR and launch an inquiry as soon as he learnt of the case.

Moreover, he said that no application regarding registration of FIR was ever sent to him by the complainant.

CDA chief summoned

The IHC on Wednesday issued a summons for the Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman to appear in person in a case relating to sealing the Safa Gold Mall.

Appearing on behalf of the sealed mall, Barrister Shah Khawar contended that CDA’s move to seal the mall was illegal.

“CDA has cancelled the allotment of land,” he contended, adding that they received a letter on July 18 to seal the mall. He further said that the mall has already challenged the CDA’s decision to cancel the lease of the mall in court.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25th, 2019.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ