School route turns risky for girls

A good number of schoolgirls studying in grades one to 10 at Government Girls High School, Chaklala Gharibabad, are being forced to walk in the middle of the road because of encroachments on the footpath and illegal parking throughout the day and night, exposing them to serious risks to their safety.

Residents say several girls have been injured in accidents involving speeding motorcycles and cars amid heavy traffic and encroachments outside the school.

Complaints have also emerged that young men loitering in the area harass female students during school hours, adding to concerns among parents about their daughters' safety.

Parents have submitted applications to the deputy commissioner, the City Police Officer (CPO) and the local police station, seeking immediate intervention to address the situation.

Local residents and parents, including Yasir Bhatti, Fayyaz Mughal, Nauman Taj Abbasi, former naib nazim Sheikh Hameed and Wahab Khan, said the serious issue had also been brought to the attention of the CPO during an open court held at Chaklala Police Station.

They said the CPO had issued strict instructions, making it clear that such complaints should not recur. However, they regretted that no visible action had been taken to implement the orders.

The residents demanded regular police patrols during school opening and closing hours and the deployment of at least two police personnel along the stretch between the school and Burma Shell.

They said the personnel should question suspicious individuals loitering in the area and take legal action against anyone found harassing female students.

They also called for the immediate removal of encroachments from the footpath outside the school and an end to illegal parking in the area around the clock. This, they said, would provide the students with a safe passage and enable them to travel to and from school without fear.

The area also falls within the constituency of MNA Barrister Danyal Chaudhary, whose residence is located there. According to the residents, the issues have also been brought to his attention. However, they alleged that neither the police had taken effective measures nor had the relevant local government authority cleared the encroachments.

The residents appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Rawalpindi deputy commissioner and the CPO to take immediate action to ensure the safety of the schoolgirls, clear the footpath, eliminate illegal parking and ensure effective police deployment during school hours.

They stressed that urgent intervention was necessary to protect the students from accidents and harassment and ensure that they could pursue their education in a safe environment.