Once a centre of educational excellence and a symbol of unity for the Muslims of the garrison city, the 129 years old Islamia High School on Murree Road opposite Liaquat Bagh, is struggling to save its land from encroachers and rebuild its reputation as an institution with outstanding educational standards.

In 1885, the Muslim community of Rawalpindi began to feel the need for an educational institution where Arabic and Islamic Studies could be taught to Muslim students.

Members of various Muslim sects joined hands to establish an educational institution for the Muslims of the city. Saith Mamoon Jee from the Bohra community, donated 42 kanals for the school building, and donations were collected for the construction of the school.

An old teacher at the school, Ijaz Khokhar, told Dawn that a donation box was placed at the Bari Imam shrine which was visited by Muslims from all over the Indian Subcontinent.

In 1886, classes began at the school. In 1934, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah visited the school and held a public meeting in the grounds of the Government Islamia High School, opposite the Liaquat Bagh on Murree Road. Fatima Jinnah and Begum Raana Liaquat Ali also frequently visited the school.

The school continued to be known as an eminent educational institution and the students who graduated from this school went on to become respected politicians, judges, army and civilian officers, doctors and engineers.

However, over the last 30 years, the historical institution has fallen into insignificance and lost much of its land to encroachers.

The school building is in bad shape with one part of the roof collapsed and cracks in the walls of the main building where over 700 students attend classes each day.

Some years ago, former MNA Malik Shakil Awan managed to bring some fund from the Punjab government and had one new block constructed on the premises. However, it is not enough to accommodate the ever-growing number of students at the school.

“The 42 kanals of school’s land were reduced to 16 kanals over the years. The land adjacent to the mosque affiliated with the school was also encroached upon as it is prime real estate on main Murree Road. We approached the courts but the case is still pending decision,” the principal of the school, Imran Qureshi, said.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2015

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