Security concerns: Chief secretary rejects proposal to convert college into prison

Hotiana says such a move will make a mockery of education.

Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Chief Secretary Sajjad Saleem Hotiana rejected a proposal to turn a shiny new college building into a jail.

The proposal was presented by Ministry of Housing and Works Secretary Zafar Abbas on Thursday to provide better facilities to prisoners.

“It will make a mockery of education,” Hotiana commented and directed officials concerned to ensure the building is immediately completed and classes begin soon.



“The building is at the final stage of completion and officials were seeking Hotiana’s consent to convert it into a prison,” said Shehzad Ahmad, a senior government official.

Ahmad added the chief secretary rejected the idea and called it “the worst joke of the century”.

While inspecting incomplete projects, Hotiana blamed the delay in development projects on ‘corrupt mafias’ and ill-planning by engineers.

The college building was initially supposed to be completed in three years, but remains incomplete even after seven. Hotiana underlined the need for an efficient monitoring system so projects are completed on time.



The chief secretary also expressed displeasure over the use of substandard material in construction and directed Secretary Abbas to take appropriate action.

Last year, authorities faced stiff resistance from students and teachers when a school and a college in Gilgit were turned into makeshift police stations. Security forces had to vacate the buildings after protests.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2013.