MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Supreme Court on Tuesday restored an “education package” which was introduced by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government in 2015 but was shelved by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) after coming to power last year.

In 2015, the PPP government had upgraded over 500 educational institutions — from primary schools to inter-colleges — appointing teachers and initiating classes.

However, the PML-N government constituted a cabinet committee to “review” the package — a decision challenged by the PPP in the High Court.

Before the committee could submit its report, the government de-notified the package, following which the PPP filed an amended petition in the High Court. Disposing of the petition, the court empowered the government to take decisions on upgrading of schools according to suitability.

Both the government and the PPP filed separate appeals against the court’s decision and the Supreme Court restored the package in April this year on the grounds that the cabinet did not enjoy powers to undo something enacted by the legislature.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2017