ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday scrapped the notification for repatriation of about 1,000 female teachers working on deputation in the schools of Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah directed the FDE director general to pass speaking order on the posting and transfer of the female teachers to their respective provinces after hearing them.

Justice Minallah, however, made it clear that the court order will not apply on teachers who have joined their parent departments in other provinces.

FDE DG Ikram Ali Malik appeared before the court. He submitted a report related to posting and transfer of the teachers working in Islamabad on deputation in the FDE schools.

On Feb 17, the court had suspended the posting orders of female teachers being repatriated to their parent department apparently in violation of the wedlock policy.

On Dec 11, FDE posted female teachers to their provincial educational departments.

The teachers filed petitions before the IHC saying under the wedlock policy, the female government employee could not be posted to the station other than of her spouse.

In addition to filing petitions, the school teachers also camped in front of Parliament House for weeks.

In January this year, the court granted stay order in the matter related to repatriation of the teachers and observed that apparently the teachers have been transferred in violation of the wedlock policy.

The petitioners FDE teachers asserted that they had been working to the satisfaction of the competent authority for long. Some have been working since 2006 and the competent authority would extend the period of deputation from time to time.

Driver’s conviction in harassment case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday upheld the conviction of a van driver accused of harassing two female students while taking them to a seminary.

The additional district and sessions judge (ADSJ) Atta Rabbani on January 18, had convicted and awarded sentence of 14 years in jail and fine amounting to Rs1 million to convict Hamid Khan the van driver of.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah was hearing Khan’s appeal against his conviction.

The prosecution accused Khan of harassing 13 and 14 years students while they were going with him from their residence in Sector I-10 to a nearby seminary.

The students complained this to their parents and subsequently an FIR was registered against Khan.

According to the FIR the harassment incident took place in the jurisdiction of Sabzi Mandi police on Jan 28.

The convict had filed appeal in IHC against his conviction.

State counsel Danial Hassan told the court this is heinous crime and it was good thing that the girls told their parents about the incident.

Police took immediate action and proceeded with the case swiftly.

IHC upheld the sessions’ court decision after hearing the arguments of the lawyers.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2021