Beyond everyday sexism: Islamia College asked to make space for women in sports

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court on Thursday ordered the administration of Islamia College to keep spots for women in the quota of students who come via the sports seat route.

A division bench of Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Irshad Qaiser accepted the petition of Mahnoor Khan filed through her counsel Ayesha Malik. The petitioner was denied admission on a sports seat as it was reserved for sportsmen only.

Malik told the court Mahnoor submitted an application seeking admission in first year pre-medical on a sports seat. The petitioner had also attached certificates she had obtained in different games.

Men only

“Mahnoor was denied admission on a sports seat on the grounds that these seats were exclusively reserved for men and there was no seat available for women. It is gender discrimination on part of the college administration,” said Malik.

Read: Women in sports: Staying afoot in the service box

The counsel for the petitioner told the court it was discrimination as well as a violation of basic human rights guaranteed in the Constitution. The lawyer requested the court to declare the college’s policy unconstitutional on the grounds of discrimination.

The court, after hearing the arguments, allowed the petition and directed Islamia College to reserve seats for sportswomen in the quota.

More decisions

In another case, the same bench told the Ehtesab Commission to submit a report about the arrest of Mines and Minerals DG Dr Liaqat Ali.

Read: ‘I was paid 10% of what male actors were getting’

Ali was arrested on June 18 for his alleged involvement in illegal mining in Mama Khel area near Nizampur, Nowshera. He has been accused of causing losses worth millions of rupees to the government exchequer.

Lately, several high-profile people, including Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Mines and Mineral Development Ziaullah Afridi, former minister Nawabzada Mehmood Zeb, former Bannu commissioner Asamatullah Gandapur, have been arrested by either Ehtesab Commission or NAB.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2015.