RAWALPINDI: As the deadline for private educational institutions to vacate residential areas expired on Dec 31, the Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonment boards plan to seal schools, colleges as well as shops from Monday (tomorrow).

On the other hand, the All Private Educational Institutions Joint Action Committee pledged to resist any move to seal the institutions until the Supreme Court’s decision on their review petition.

The petition was filed against an apex court directive issued in 2019 to the boards to clear cantonment residential areas of commercial activities.

A senior official of Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) told Dawn that teams had been formed to start action against private educational institutions operating in the residential areas from Monday.

Owners ask authorities to wait until decision on their review plea in apex court

He said according to a survey carried out by the civic body, 493 private educational institutions were operating in the cantonment area.

“As many as 454 educational institutions have been established on private land, including 369 in narrow streets and 85 on main roads. A total 39 educational institutions are on government land given on lease,” he said.

“Basically, the purpose of the new survey was to give some relief to the schools which were not on main roads and did not cause traffic congestion. Initial action will be likely against schools and colleges located on main roads,” he said.

He said after pressure from the local residents, the cantonment boards were undecided about sealing schools and colleges.

“The vice chairmen of the Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonment boards were from the opposition PML-N and the party’s divisional chief, former MNA Malik Ibrar, has already announced his decision to resist shifting of the educational institutions from residential areas,” he said.

However, he said, there were clear directions from the federal government to implement the Supreme Court’s decision. He said the cantonment authorities had made arrangements to start action from Monday as Saturday and Sunday were weekly offs.

When contacted, RCB spokesman Qaiser Mehmood said the deadline to shift the educational institutions and commercial outlets from residential areas expired on Dec 31 and the apex court direction would be implemented.

He said so far 24 schools had been sealed, including 22 set up on private land and two on leased government land.

The spokesman said elected members did not stop the civic body from taking action as under the law all the organisations and civic bodies had to follow the directives of the apex court.

Abrar Ahmed Khan, member of the joint action committee, told Dawn that some cantonments in other parts of the country had sealed schools but so far no action had been taken in Rawalpindi and Chaklala.

He urged the government to wait for the decision of the Supreme Court.

He said parents, students, teachers and school staff were worried about their future as inflation had already made their lives miserable and the closure of schools would add salt to their wounds.

Furthermore, the All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association staged a protest outside the National Press Club against the move.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2022