LAHORE - Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah of Lahore High Court has sought comprehensive report from Punjab government on security arrangements in all schools of Punjab, with directives for officials concerned to ensure security.
Syed Wajahat Hamdani, special Home secretary, told the judge that classification of schools had been done keeping in view the security threat and the vulnerable ones had been given priority. He added that Punjab government had provided Rs2 billion for provision of security gadgets like metal detectors, walkthrough gates and CCTV cameras.
He also told the judge that monitoring teams had been constituted under supervision of DCOs in the province and reports were being collected on daily basis.
Special School Secretary Muhammad Gulzar submitted that walls of educational institutions were being raised high and the work was being monitored by all the secretaries and a daily report was being sent to the chief minister.
“Security of sensitive schools has been beefed up and special branch officials have also been deputed there,” Gulzar informed the court.
Lahore CCPO Amin Wains informed the court that the issue had been prioritised and efforts were afoot to update the security paraphernalia.
The judge remarked that it was a national issue as lives of the younger generation were at stake and their parents were worried very much. He further remarked that it was a good omen that students were going to school despite of security threats and the government should have completed security arrangements before opening of all schools in one go.
Police officials requested the judge to hold in-camera proceedings which was accepted by the court.
In-camera proceedings would be held from the next hearing, January 19.
Advocate Zain Sakander, father of a three-and-half-year-old girl, had filed the petition saying that the notification regarding opening of schools should be declared null and void in the absence of proper security cover. Parents, the major stakeholders, should be kept informed about the implementation of SOPs and report should be submitted in the court, he further prayed.