Action ordered against student bullies

Lahore High Court's Justice Jawad Hassan has formed a committee, led by the Secretary of School Education, to explore amendments to existing laws or the creation of new legislation to address physical and cyberbullying in educational institutions across Punjab.

The directive was issued during a hearing on a petition filed by Sibah Farooq and her daughter, Sereen Khan, who sought legal protection for students against bullying in schools.

Represented by Barrister Muhammad Ahmad Pansota, the petitioners requested that the court push for comprehensive legislation to address the issue of bullying, arguing that such protections are crucial for a safe and dignified learning environment.

Appearing before the court on Monday, the Special Secretary of School Education assured Justice Hassan that the government is committed to addressing bullying, even if it requires amending the Punjab Free and Compulsory Education Act 2014 or drafting new legislation.

The court instructed the committee to assess current laws and consider ways to incorporate anti-bullying measures into them.

The petitioners requested that the court direct authorities to create safe educational environments where children can exercise their right to education free from fear.

They called for policies requiring educational institutions to address bullying incidents, conduct regular awareness campaigns, and establish a formal reporting structure.

The petition also urged the establishment of a watchdog body to oversee anti-bullying measures and ensure implementation.

The petitioners sought an order mandating respondents to submit a record of any actions taken in the past five years to raise awareness about bullying.

They also asked that physical and cyberbullying be recognized as a fundamental issue in education, with monitoring through a "continuing mandamus" approach to ensure compliance.

The petition named several respondents, including the Federation of Pakistan, the ministries of law, education, human rights, information technology, and Punjab's school education department.

Other respondents included the National Commission on the Rights of Child, the Punjab Child Protection Bureau, the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority, the Director General of FIA, and the President of the All Pakistan Private Schools Federation.

The counsel for the petitioners argued that young students face increasing exposure to both physical and cyberbullying, which often goes unaddressed in the absence of specific legislation.