GUJRANWALA: The parents association on Wednesday condemned private school owners for jeopardising the future of their children by closing schools for two days. They demanded strict action against the owners.

Association leaders Adnan Yaqoob, Mian Imran and other parents from Ghakhar Town said their children were studying in a private school in the Cantonment area and they were spending thousands of rupees per month on fees. They alleged several owners of private schools had amassed money and constructed bungalows and purchased luxury cars in a year.

They also telephoned Kashif Mirza, president of the private schools association, and protested over the schools’ closure alleging the owners were fleecing students by increasing paper funds and fee without lawful authority.

They said annual examinations were under way in almost all private schools when owners suddenly went on a strike without informing students and parents. They claimed the owners had increased fee by Rs400 and paper funds Rs1,500 last year.

They demanded the owners be barred from increasing fee and other funds from April when the new academic session commences.

CAMPAIGN: PML-N MNA Hamza Shahbaz on Wednesday paid a visit to NA-101, Wazirabad, as part of election campaign for party nominee retired Justice Iftikhar Ahmad Cheema and urged people to vote for him in the by-poll on March 22.

He visited Khanki-head where Adnan Sarwar Cheema, son of former defence minister retired Col Ghulam Sarwar Cheema, welcomed him and announced joining the PML-N along with his workers from the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

Hamza also visited Manchar Chattha and Jameki Chattha Wada Pind where Adil Bakhsh Chattha, son of former MPA Shaukat Chattha, and former MPA Nawazish Ali Cheema also announced joining the PML-N.

Speaking at a public meeting, he said opportunists could not deceive voters after switching loyalties and the PML-N would retain the seat and win the by-poll.

UNIFORM: District Public Prosecutor Rana Sultan Salahuddin suggested public prosecutors be given proper uniform to appear in courts as several suspects had duped people by posing as prosecutors and offering to help them with litigation.

He forwarded the suggestion to higher authorities and said proper uniform should be given to prosecutors to avoid complications while pursuing cases in courts.

CASE: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) ordered to register a corruption case against a revenue patwari and a sub-inspector.

ACE Regional Director Rana Abdul Shakoor received a complaint against Mandi Bahauddin patwari Muzaffar Iqbal for tampering with records and looting the national exchequer.

Sub-Inspector Mian Riaz allegedly received Rs25,000 from Shahbaz for helping him in a criminal case.

When ACE Circle Officer Amir Sundho conducted an inquiry against them, they were found guilty.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2016