A constitutional petition has been filed in Lahore High Court seeking uniform education policy and enforcement of provision of free education to children up to 16 years old, under Article 22-A of the constitution including public and private sectors.
The petitioner, Chairman Judicial Activism Panel (JAP) Muhammad Azhar Siddique advocate said he had filed a contempt of court petition against shifting of a public government school in Baghbanpura in violation of an earlier order of the court.
District government had ordered merger of Soharwardia Primary School Rasheedpura, Baghbanpura into Ashraf Primary School Darogawla, Lahore which was situated two kilometre away, creating problem for 300 children. He said officials of district government were not obeying the LHC order and were adamant to shift school to other place.
He said under Article 25-A of the constitution (inserted through 18th constitutional amendment) the State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children to the age of five to sixteen years. He said after acceptance of right to education as fundamental right under Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan the State is under legal obligation to provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of 5 to 16 years across Pakistan.
The petitioner, therefore, prayed the court to direct the federal government and Punjab government to enforce Article 25-A of the Constitution in letter and spirit by making a uniform system of education and allowing all students and children free of cost from the age of 5 to 16 years.