LAHORE, Aug 12: With reference to the news item appearing in Dawn on Aug 11 about alleged violation of sanctity of the Andrew’s Church by the administration of the Beaconhouse School System, the latter has sent the following clarification:

“We entered into an agreement dated April 20, 2001 with the Pakistan Railways whereby we were handed over management control of 19 railway schools, including St. Andrew’s High School, with effect from Jan 1, 2002.

“There was no functioning church or even any evidence of the previous functioning of a church in any part of St. Andrew’s High School property at the time of its handover to our management.

“No member of the Christian community acquainted us of any such ‘history’.

“We are not running a marriage hall in any part of St. Andrew’s school property. This is completely false and without foundation.

“Due to various reasons our management contract with Pakistan Railways has not worked out. We are currently suffering a loss of Rs 35 million per annum. Consequently we are terminating the management contract with effect from Sept 1 next, and Pakistan Railways will be resuming the management control of St. Andrew’s School along with other schools on this date. A notice to this effect has already been sent to Pakistan Railways.

“It is self-evident that politically-motivated persons hostile to the foreign minister have concocted entirely false allegations to defame both him and BSS and are also seeking publicity by using his name to draw attention to themselves. We reserve our rights to initiate appropriate legal proceedings in accordance with law against persons making such false allegations.”