RAWALPINDI: The cantonment boards in Rawalpindi and Chaklala have refused to de-seal schools operating in residential areas until they received written orders from the Supreme Court.

The apex court on Wednesday issued a notice to the cantonment boards after staying sealing of private schools in all the 42 cantonment areas across the country.

The court stayed its earlier order in which it had given the deadline of Dec 31, 2021, for the closure of private schools operating in residential areas in the cantonments.

Till the court decision, 24 schools had been sealed in the cantonment areas of Rawalpindi, including 22 on private land and two on leased government land. As many as 493 private educational institutions were operating in the cantonment areas of Rawalpindi.

Of these, 454 institutions were established on private land and 39 on leased government land.

After the apex court ruling, a delegation from All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association visited the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) and requested its management to open the schools sealed last month. However, the cantonment officials told them that they had not received the written decision of the court.

All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association President Malik Ibrar told Dawn that the cantonment authorities in Rawalpindi, Quetta and Peshawar had sealed schools while in Karachi a stay order had already been obtained from Sindh High Court and not a single school was sealed there.

He said the association had informed the schools who had been sealed in December not to worry as the written order of the apex court would be received in a day or two.

When contacted, RCB Secretary Qaiser Mehmood said the delegation of private schools had requested for de-sealing the schools.

“We informed them that the civic body was waiting for the written order of the apex court and after receiving it the Military Lands and Cantonments will issue orders to the civic bodies to de-seal the schools.”

He said after the court decision was reported in the print and electronic media, the cantonment board stopped further action against schools.

About action against commercial activities in the residential areas, he said after the written order of the court the civic body would start action against shops and other commercial activities.

He said there were reports that the apex court had only stayed cantonment boards from taking action against educational institutions. However, he said, the situation would be clear after the written decision of the court was received.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2022