DERA GHAZI KHAN: The education department in its report submitted to the Anti-Corruption Establishment has denied the existence of ‘ghost’ schools in Koh Sulaiman tehsil.

The ACE started an investigation against Usman Buzdar, his brothers and alleged front man Toor Khan Buzdar on an application [filed by a citizen Bashir Ahmad] about the alleged ghost schools in tribal tehsil Koh Sulaiman.

The reports says audit of schools was done in 2018 while action is being taken against some absentee teachers under the PEEDA Act.

Meanwhile, ACE Director Khurram Parvez has summoned headmasters with record of alleged ghost schools on April 7.

Earlier, the ACE had summoned Usman Buzdar, his brothers Umar Khan, alleged frontman Toor Khan Buzdar on April 3 in the wake of investigation initiated on the application of Bashir Ahmad Chauhan against 22 ghost schools in mauza Kharar Buzdar of tehsil Koh Sulaiman.

Toor Buzdar appeared before the ACE. The CEO (education) and deputy district education officer Koh Sulaiman appeared on behalf of the education department and submitted the report.

According to report, the schools were established between 2008 and 2012. The schools have been audited twice while departmental action under the Peeda Act is also being taken against some absentee teachers. Usman Buzdar’s lawyer Behram Khan Buzdar said the schools were not situated in the native provincial constituency of Usman Buzdar and these schools were established in the constituency from 2008 to 2012 [not in the tenure of Usman Buzdar].

Sources told Dawn that an official visited the schools and also obtained information from the people of the area. There was neither furniture in the schools nor were the teachers present, while in some schools, beds and cots were also kept, there were no admission registers of the children.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2023