Post withdrawal: Schools claim millions in damages caused by police

Over 40,000 security officials were housed in 60 schools and colleges in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD:

Capital schools and colleges are submitting reports on damages caused to the infrastructure by the police and FC officials they housed for over a month to the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).

The directorate had asked the institutes to furnish estimates of the damages right after the withdrawal of security officials from schools on September 26.

The Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) has also written a letter to the Islamabad deputy commissioner demanding compensation for damages done to buildings.

Over 40,000 police and Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel brought in from other cities to deal with the marches of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) were housed in 60 schools and colleges in Islamabad.



The educational institutes have submitted damages of different nature which include inflated electricity bills, damage to desks, chairs, classrooms and washrooms. Many schools and colleges have yet to submit the list of damages.

Inflated utility bills

Islamabad Model College for Girls (ICG) F-6/2 has received Rs219,811 electricity bill. It housed over 3,000 security officials. Similarly, Islamabad Model School for Girls G-9/3 received Rs55,000 bill for September. Islamabad Model School for Boys (IMSB) G-6/4 has bill totalling Rs43,000 and Islamabad Model School for Boys G-10/3 Rs42,000.

“Usually, we pay Rs10,000 to Rs11,000 every month in electricity bill but due to 24-hour presence of security officials utilising fans, water pumping machines and tube lights has raised the bill,” said Shoukat Ali, Principal IMSB G-10/3.

Damages to infrastructure

Over 40 chairs have been damaged in the ICG. A total of 20 desks and over 250 chairs in the central hall are partially damaged. The hall was strewn with carpets where the officials would sleep. Most manhole lids in the playground are broken and covered by sticks and bricks as trucks and buses were parked there.

Besides, 30 flowerpots, grill of the main gate and four water pumps have also been broken.

IMCB Bhara Kahu says three fans, 67 tube lights, 16 lecture podiums and 10 tables, water taps and sewerage lines have been damaged.

Trash

According to Sameena Azhar of IMSG G-9/3, it took two days to clear the junk and litter from the premises of the school. “We have 10 washrooms but 700 policemen stayed here.” She said they had to clear the graffiti the policemen left on the school walls. The school has claimed damages worth Rs355,000.

The principal added that the building was filled with wrappers, plastic bags and other items of daily use and they had to seek additional sweepers’ help to clear it.

The FDE Director Administration Ghulam Hussain Sohoo said that they were looking to furnish all the damages details with Islamabad Police and the district government.

An official of FDE was, however, telling the schools to register the details be it exaggerated. “As you know it is difficult to get the money out of the government kitty so you can include items that were not damaged by the police officials too,” he whispered.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2014.