Girl students defend school from illegal land conversion
PHOTO: AFP
The young girls attending a nearby public school rose to the occasion, shielding their educational space from a landlord's endeavour to transform it into a commercial zone.
The young students of Government Primary Girls School approached the office of SDPO Circle, DSP Tahir Ejaz, to report the ongoing unauthorised commercial construction within their school compound, despite prior notice from the school administration.
Upon receiving the collective complaint, SDPO Tahir Ejaz promptly escalated the matter to DPO Hussnain Haider and AC Asghar Laghari for immediate action.
The assistant commissioner, accompanied by revenue officials, police personnel and SDPO Tahir Ejaz, proceeded to the site to verify the claims.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that landlord Ghulam Abbas along with his sons Muhammad Yunis and Amir, accompanied by their friend Abdul Khaliq, were overseeing the construction of commercial buildings on the school's premises.
Following a thorough investigation conducted by revenue department officials, it was conclusively established that the land being developed belonged to the school.
Subsequently, law enforcement authorities apprehended the landlord and his accomplices involved in the illegal occupation of public property, registering cases against them.
In a decisive move, the assistant commissioner ordered the demolition of the unauthorised structures erected on the school's land, comprising shops and a house.
DPO Hussnain Haider commended the courageous actions of the young students, whose timely intervention helped safeguard the integrity of the educational institution.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 5th, 2024.