MULTAN: A teacher ploughed her car into students, killing one of the girls and injuring four others here on Monday.

The south Punjab secretary schools education has suspended the teacher and the principal over their alleged negligence.

Reports said the students were hit by the car of Iqra Javed, a teacher of the Government Muslim Girls Model High School, Pul Mauj Darya, when she was trying to park her vehicle at the parking area. Soon the car entered from the gate of the school and was turning towards the parking lot, the teacher lost control over it and hit the students standing in the assembly area.

Ammara Khalil, a student of class-X, lost her life in the incident while four others — Fizza, Nisha, Mehwish and Maham Amir — were injured.

School Principal Mah Talat called Rescue 1122 and police. The rescuers shifted the injured students to Nishtar Hospital where Ammara Khalil succumbed to her injuries. while doctors declared the others stable.

A police team, led by ASP Hassan Afzal, reached the school.

Taking notice of the incident, Secretary Schools Dr Ehtasham Anwar suspended the principle and the teacher with immediate effect till further orders while issuing direction to Director Public Instructions (Secondary Education) South Punjab Aezaz Ahmad Khan to ascertain the facts, fix the responsibility and give recommendations for further course of action within 24 hours.

Dr Anwar also visited the Nishtar Hospital where he inquired after the injured students and directed Medical Superintendent Dr Amjad Chandio to provide them with best possible treatment.

He also paid a visit to the school and directed the CEO education to arrange a comprehensive briefing after reviewing the security arrangements of each and every school of the district. ASP Afzal informed the media that any legal action would be taken after the complaint will be lodged by the parents of the deceased and the injured.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2021