KHAN GARH - IRFAN ULLAH KHAN - The slogan of “Maar Nahi Pyaar” of the Punjab Education Department introduced by the previous provincial government, has appeared to be merely eyewash as incidents of ‘corporal punishment’ continue to taking place consistently at educational institutions.
Such incidents often occur at the famous presidential award recipient educational institution Abdalian Science Higher Secondary School (ASHSS) Deen Pur Muzaffargarh. According to the locals, several students got injured due to torture by ASHSS Principle Adeel Mukhtiar and other teachers. A local, who claimed his son was also ‘brutalised’ by the principal, on condition of anonymity, said that the teaching staff at the school violated the govt instructions regarding corporal punishment habitually, adding that a number of torture on students incidents took place at the school but its management hushed up all the voices against the brutality either through menaces or “give and take.” Another local, who also wished not be named, claimed that though the principal did not torture students himself, he asked other teachers to beat the students due to “what he called” his ill-mind. He pointed out that the school management treated injured students at the school dispensary and forced them to give written statements that no one beat them but they injured while playing, which was a more serious crime.
Meanwhile, a sources at the school denied the existence of any government policy prohibiting corporal punishment in schools, stating that he would continue to ‘punish children’ regardless of the government policy or any action parents might take against him.
Local social and religious circles were of the opinion that such incidents were ‘detrimental’ to the country’s academic environment and could not be accepted under any circumstances. They stressed that corporal punishments in schools must be monitored and the guilty teachers must be brought to justice.
Moreover, this scribe is also in possession of a mobile (footage) of the brutal incident.
When contacted ASHSS Principal Adeel Mukhtiar on his cellphone, he denied the charges, disconnected the call and switched off his cellphone as this scribe made repeated attempts.