SHC summons secretary education in schools' security case

KARACHI: Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday expressed its displeasure over absence of Sindh’s Secretary Education in a case regarding security of schools in the province, ARY News reported.

The bench summoned the secretary education on April 11 and ordered him to submit detailed report regarding security of the schools in province.

The petition was filed by the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research and others regarding provision of adequate security to the schools by the provincial government.

The counsel of the petitioner had submitted the names of 10 schools for the security survey. The counsel said that the schools in Karachi’s Lyari, Orangi Town and Gulbarg areas facing serious security problems.

The lawyer said that the government of Sindh failed to take any step for security of schools during three years since the court’s order.

The counsel of the government said that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been compiled for the government and private schools’ security and the I.G. Sindh Police has been ordered for enforcement of the SOPs.

The government counsel also said that the security has been stepped up at all educational institutions of Sindh.

The high court in May 25, 2016 had ordered a survey to pinpoint which schools are vulnerable and the provision of adequate security arrangements by the provincial government.

The court had further directed the relevant authorities to submit a compliance report within four weeks, which the provincial administration failed to submit after the lapse of the given period.

However, the education secretary later filed a compliance report. The court had expressed its dissatisfaction over the report and ordered the education secretary and others to take practical steps for the security of Sindh’s schools.

Much emphasis has been laid on the security situation of schools and educational institutions in Pakistan, following deadly attacks on the Army Public School in Peshawar and Bacha Khan University attack in Charsadda. Scores of people were killed in both attacks, prompting calls for enhanced security measures to ensure a foolproof security.