Government takes over 10 JD schools

By Khalid Khattak

LAHORE: THE Punjab government has appointed administrators in ten selected schools of banned outfit Jamat ud Dawa after intelligence agencies reported that these institutions were promoting extremism.As many as 26 educational institutions of Jamat ud Dawa are operating in various parts of the province but the government has appointed administrators in only 10 selected schools.Sources revealed that following a ban imposed on the JD, intelligence agencies informed the government that ten of JD educational institutions in various parts of Punjab were promoting extremism. “Special lectures promoting Jihad are delivered to students especially at the time of assembly,” sources quoting intelligence reports said.A senior official of the School Education Department seeking anonymity said the move was aimed at resumption of academic activities at JD-run institutions especially in view of the upcoming matriculation annual examinations. He, however, said monitoring will also be job of the administrators. He said the administrators took over on Friday. To a question, he said teachers would not be replaced and they would continue to teach at these institutions.When contacted, Abdullah Muntazir, a spokesman for JD, said the organisation had always worked within the law adding discipline had been the top priority at Dawa schools. He said if there was any JD policy to promote non-academic activities or extremism among students then it would have been followed in all schools not only in ten schools. He said Dawa schools were not only registered with the government but these schools followed government approved syllabus. He said the government had asked principals of Dawa schools to coordinate with the administrators. Education and charity institutions of Jamat ud Dawa were raided on December 11 and its offices were sealed in compliance with the UN Security Council ban imposed in connection with recent Mumbai attacks. Following the ban, the government planned to take administrative control of the educational institutions run by the banned organisation.According to a notification issued by Punjab School Education Department, Muhammad Ashraf (Basic Pay Scale 19) Ex Senior Headmaster has been appointed administrator at Al-Dawa ModelHigher Secondary School, 8-KM Multan Road Lahore, Tanveer Ahmed (BPS-19) Senior Headmaster Government High School Qila Maseeta, Muridke, Sheikhupura at Al Dawa Model School, Al Dawa Centre Markaz-e-Tayyaba, Muridke, Sheikhupura, Humayun Shahid Rashid (BPS-19) Senior Headmaster Government Tariq High School, Sheikhupura at Al Dawa Model High School Shami Road, Sheikhupura, Muhammad Munir Mughal (BPS-19) Senior Headmaster Government Model Town High School Gujranwala at Al Dawa Model School, Kashmir Road, Peoples Colony Gujranwala, Abdul Salam (BPS-19) Senior Headmaster Government High School, Fort Abbas, Bahawalnagar at Al Dawa Model School, Fort Abbas, Bahawalnagar, Muhammad Yousaf Warraich (BPS-19) Senior Headmaster Government Comprehensive School, GT Road Gujrat at Al Dawa Model School, Shadman Colony Gujrat, Muhammad Altaf (BPS-19) Senior Headmaster Government Rafa-e-Aam High School Multan at Al Dawa Model School, Tareen Road Multan, Hamid Saeed (BPS-19) Senior Headmaster Government High School Kehror Pacca, Lodhran at Al Dawa Model School, Kehror Pacca Lodhran, Muhammad Riaz (BPS-19) Senior Headmaster Government MC High School, Okara at Al Dawa Model School, Canal Road Okara and Muhammad Tariq Malik (BPS-17) Headmaster Government High School, Pir Mahal, Toba Tek Singh at Al Dawa Model School, Bhussi Road, Khan Da Chak, Pir Mahal, Toba Tek Singh.

Source: The News International
Saturday, December 27, 2008