LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday summoned a Punjab government a summary about conversion of historic Government Central Model School, Lower Mall, into Danish Schools System.

Justice Shahid Karim was hearing a petition filed by Muzaffar Hashmi and others in 2023.

Advocate Asad Manzoor Butt appeared on behalf of the petitioners and argued that the Central Model School had an historic importance and had been working as an independent institution under a board of governors. He said the school was established in 1883 and produced countless success stories.

He said the provincial government handed over the control of the school to the Danish Schools System by converting it into a centre of excellence.

He asked the court to set aside the impugned action of the government for being illegal.

Justice Karim directed an assistant advocate general to present the summary approved by the government regarding the school’s conversion into the Danish Schools System.

Previously in 2023, the court had restrained the then caretaker government from handing over the Central Model School to the Danish Schools System.

The petitioners pleaded that the government had a plan to disperse the teachers and the students of the central model school and accommodate them in other schools.

Justice Karim had observed that the government could not force the students of the Central Model School to study in other schools.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2025