Students welfare: ‘Funds for rehabilitation, not monuments’

PHC seeks reply of seven officials in case against construction of commemorative building.

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court sought written comments from seven officials in a case against the possible construction of a monument in honour of the children martyred in the Army Public School massacre.

In the petition filed by the PHC Bar Association through its President Muhammad Isa Khan, the court was urged to order authorities to spend the donations and contributions on the welfare of the affected children rather than ‘unnecessary’ monuments. Justices Waqar Ahmed Seth and Muhammad Daud Khan issued notices to the interior secretary, National Assembly speaker, Senate chairman, secretary home and tribal affairs, K-P Assembly speaker, the 11 corps station commander and APS principal.

The bar association president told the court that several people and organisations had donated money to the APS administration after the tragedy of December 16, 2014. He added officials want to spend a significant portion of the funds on the construction of a commemorative monument.

Khan pointed out one of the injured APS students breathed his last after spending two months in the hospital. He said the Constitution places the responsibility of providing quality health care to all citizens on the shoulders of the state.

The court was requested to direct the government to extend all possible financial assistance to injured APS students and give them access to proper medical care. The PHCBA also requested that the government be ordered to pay the announced financial assistance to affected families without further delay.

“The APS administration must be ordered not to waste donations on the construction of an unnecessary and uncalled for monument inside or outside the school,” the petition read. “The money should be spent on the welfare of students, especially those affected [by the terrorist attack],” it added.

The petition claimed millions were paid to the APS administration by non-governmental organisations and they were obviously meant for the rehabilitation of students. However, the petitioner believed nothing tangible had emerged to date.

“The announcement by the school administration that funds will be spent on constructing a monument or some blocks is inconceivable; particularly at a time when victim students and their families are crying for financial assistance and proper treatment,” the petition further read.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2015.