IHC issues notices to secretary education, others in petition against teachers’ protest

ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Wednesday issued notices to Federal Secretary Education and others in a petition moved against the protest and strike of teachers in the capital. 

A single bench of IHC comprising Chief Justice of IHC Justice Athar Minallah conducted hearing of a petition moved by a citizen Ejaz Nazir through his counsel Yasir Mahmood Chaudhary Advocate and issued notices to the respondents. The petitioner Ejaz Nazir cited Federation of Pakistan through Federal Secretary Ministry of Education, Federal Directorate of Education through its Director General, Teachers Joint Action Committee through is President and the District Magistrate Islamabad as respondents. 

Nazir stated that he is aggrieved because his real son namely Muhammad Usman is student at FG Boys School in Class-8 and his future is at stake due to continuous school teachers strike, agitation and protest for unknown demands from 30 November 2021 and ultimately the petitioner’s son and other thousands of students in Islamabad studying in 429 state-run schools have been deprived from education and compelled to sit at home therefore it seems to be a clear cut example of breach of fundamental rights of education provided in Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan and free and compulsory Act 2012 by the respondents who all are state representatives and not seem to be serious in implementation of constitutional provisions regarding the education for a bright future of Pakistan. 

He adopted that in terms of Article 25-A of the Constitution of 1973, the right of education is considered to be a fundamental right for all the children from the age of 5 to 16 but, this basic right is denied by the respondents because the teachers of 429 schools owned by Federal Government usually remain on strike and protest while the Federal Secretary of Education and Director General Federal Directorate of Education totally remain silent on this very important issue, playing the role of spectator and violating Article-5 of the Constitution of 1973. 

Petitioner’s counsel contended that the teachers are using, misusing and exploiting the right of protest against the innocent children and students of Islamabad. 

He argued that Article-25 of Constitution is regarding right to get education. He added that the petitioner filed an application to address the situation but in vain. 

Therefore, he prayed to the court to impose complete ban over teachers strike, protest, agitation boycott of classes and closure of 429 federal government schools in Islamabad and ensure the implementation of Article 25-A of the Constitution and free and compulsory education Act 2012 for a brighter future of school students and Pakistan as well. 

He requested the court to initiate departmental disciplinary penal action and removal from service against all the teachers on strike and taking part in agitation and strikes and remaining absent from their official duties. 

He further requested the court to issue direction to district magistrate to impose complete ban on sit-in at D-Chowk in front of Parliament House.  

Article source: https://nation.com.pk/20-Jan-2022/ihc-issues-notices-to-secretary-education-others-in-petition-against-teachers-protest