Principal of Pakistani school in Saudi Arabia suspended on corruption charges

JEDDAH: Pakistan Ambassador in Saudi Arabia has suspended the Principal of the Pakistan International School Jeddah (PISJ), the Express News reported.

As per details available, Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan has suspended Sehar Kamran, Principal of the PISJ with immediate effect.

School’s Director Administration Imran Raza Khan has been appointed as the new principal.

Kamran though reportedly refused to relinquish her charge to the newly appointed principal. She stopped her successor from entering the school and locked down the school for an indefinite period.

Kamran has been accused of gross indiscipline, Saudi Gazette reported.

A letter sent by the ambassador to Kamran read “you have committed gross indiscipline by defying instructions conveyed to you from time to time in regard to the financial and administrative matters of the school. You have defied my instruction for the formation of the School Management Council (SMC) through nomination as required by Article IV paragraph (1) of the Organising Rules of Management Councils of the Foreign Communities’ Schools (2006) of the Ministry of Education, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Instead, you had initiated a parallel process for election of the SMC to create rifts and divisions within the community.”

The Ambassador also accused Kamran of travelling frequently out of the country to Pakistan without taking leave from the competent authority. Her absence from the school, claimed the ambassador, has been affecting the administrative the functions of institution.

The suspended principal has also been accused of being involved in corruption for withdrawing substantial amounts of money from school’s account without any justification.

The letter further alleges that Kamran has withheld a large amount of fees collected in cash in total violation of financial discipline.

The school though reserves the right for legal recourse in the matter, said the letter.