Finally the issue of visa denial to Carey Schofield, the British principal of Langlands School and College, Chitral echoed in Upper House of Parliament, prompting the chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani to issue directives to the Interior Ministry to clarify the matter.
Speaking on a point of order in Senate on Tuesday, Senator Samina Abid of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said that the British lady, who had abandoned her luxurious lifestyle for the betterment of our young generation, was being punished without any reason.
The most backward district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, she added, had produced some excellent boys and girls after an English-medium school - Langlands School and College - was opened by a former deputy commissioner in the area given the backwardness of the valley. She regretted that the Cambridge-qualified lady, who is also one of best authors took over the school two years back after the retirement of Major G D Langlands. But her ordeal began when she sacked some teachers who were considered to be liability on the institution, she said, adding Langlands was exploited by them for their own vested interest.
Senator Samina said that Major Langlands had undoubtedly rendered great services for Chitral but at this stage when his right hand does not know what his left hand is doing, he was taken to Chitral by the sacked teachers to stage a coupe against the Principal, creating unrest among the people.
The way Langlands was compelled to make announcements, she added, restoring the sacked teachers and terminating the services of Carey Schofield as principal of school is self-explanatory that how an honourable man was disgraced. Senator Samina said that the confession by GD Langlands that he was forced to put his signatures on six blank papers indicates that how he was ridiculed by the sacked teachers.
Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani took notice of the issue and issued directives to the leader of the house in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq to consult Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan and report back to the house. Raja Zafarul Haq assured the house that he would personally contact the Interior Minister and would apprise the house as soon as possible. He said that government had a stated policy that there would be no compromise on education of children.
Talking to this correspondent after the Senate session, Samina said that she would personally pursue the case and would even see the Interior Minister if needed. She expressed optimism that the minister, who is also one of Major Langlands former pupils, would resolve the issue if he comes to know that the author of the letter was not Major Langlands rather it was fake.