PESHAWAR, Jan 17: A grade H girl has allegedly been deprived of education by none other than a former watchman of a government-run school in Shingat area of Swat.

Sarbiland Khan, the father of the girl, said that Shah Dauran, a former watchman, was now working as patwari but he was still visiting the school and interfering in its affairs.

He alleged that Mr Dauran forced his daughter to quit education by issuing her a 'forged' school leaving certificate.

He said that he had a dispute with the patwari so he did not want hischildren to get education. He said that Mr Dauran belonge d to an influential family and nobody could stop him from entering the school, as he claimed the school was built on his land.

'He is so influential that he managed to become a patwari by using different means,' Mr Khan said. He said that the certificate was issued when he was in Karachi and could not visit relevant offices in Swat to readmit his daughter to a school.

He alleged that the former watchman of the school had also beaten up his daughter when she was playing with other classmates. He appealed to Peshawar High Court chief justiceto take notice of the case.

However, Mr Dauran said that the allegations were baseless and he had enmity with the girl's family so her father wanted to defame him. 'It is a conspiracy against me. Yes, I go to the school but I have no role in issuing certificate,' he claimed. He said that he would sue those, who were defaming him.

The school headmistress, Shazia, when contacted, said that someone had issued the certificate with original seal but her signatures were bogus. She said that the certificate was issued on June 11 last year when she was on leave.

'My husband and I had met a road accident so I could not attendschool. The certificate was issued in my absence,' she said.

She said that Mr Dauran was a former watchman of the school. She said that he was now a patwari but he still used to come to the school by force but she could not stop him.

The headmistress said that she was the only teacher in the school for 322 students as non-local teachers were not ready to be posted in the remote area. 'I had hired services of a local educated girl on temporary basis. I used to pay her Rs3,000 monthly but she was removed on the complaint of the same patwari as her father had some dispute with him,' she added.

Swat Executive District OfficerSultan Mehmood, when contacted, said that he knew about the case but the headmistress had no role in it.

'The main accused is the partwari, he said, adding the girl would be readmitted to the school.

The acting district coordination officer of Swat, Niaz Mohammad Khan, however, told Dawn that it was yet to be ascertained as to who was responsible for issuing the certificate.

The administration has taken notice of the case and allowed the girl to take classes without any fear as she has done nothing wrong. 'We have initiated probe into the case and those found guilty will be awarded punishment,' he said.