SC directs K-P to appoint principal for Edward College

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Khyber-Pakhtukhwa government to formulate a criteria for the appointment of a principal in Edward College Peshawar.

A three-member SC bench comprising Justice Mushir Alam, Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed heard the case filed by Bishop Humphery Sarfaraz Peter regarding appointment of a principal of Edward College Peshawar.

At the outset of hearing, the court directed the Diocese of Peshawar of the Church of Pakistan to provide a list of five persons on merit for the appointment to the post of principal.

The court also ordered the provincial government to consult the college board and appoint a principal on merit.

During the hearing, the advocate general of K-P said that the provincial government had submitted all the details in writing to the court.

Justice Qazi Amin remarked that Pakistan belonged to all citizens living in this country. All citizens of Pakistan, regardless of their religion, were the asset of the country, he added.

The advocate general further said that Edward College Peshawar had been nationalised since 1974 and the K-P governor was the Chairman of the board of governors.

Advocate Hamid Khan, counsel for the petitioner, during his arguments said the government had stated that it wanted to run the college according to other government colleges.

Justice Afridi asked the counsel to set aside the matter and clearly state what he is trying to.

Hamid Khan replied that his client wanted a person belonging to the Christian community to remain the principal of the college.

The board was formed in 1974 and only people belonging to the Christian community have remained principals since then, he added.

Justice Afridi said that this was not a matter for the court or the government but for the students of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2021.