Government told to stop corporal punishment in capital.

Byline: Malik Asad

ISLAMABAD -- Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Athar Minallah on Thursday directed the secretary Ministry of Interior to stop corporal punishment in schools and set up a mechanism for receipt and redressal of complaints regarding inhumane treatment of students in the federal capital.

The chief justice admitted a petition for regular hearing filed by famous singer and social worker Shahzad Roy's Zindgi Trust, seeking directions to ban corporal punishment in educational institutions.

The court issued notices to the secretaries interior, law and justice, the federal education and professional training, human rights, director general education and the inspector general of Islamabad police and sought a reply till March 5.

'In the meanwhile, respondent No 5 [secretary interior] is directed to ensure that children enrolled in schools under its control are not subjected to any humiliating and degrading treatment which would violate the right of the child's dignity guaranteed under Articles 14 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973,' the court order stated.

The court also issued directions to other respondent authorities as well. 'It is noted that corporal punishments are not in consonance with the constitutionally guaranteed right of inviolability of dignity notwithstanding section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860. Respondent No 5 is further directed to put in place a mechanism for receiving complaints and redressal thereof against alleged use of corporal punishments within the Islamabad Capital Territory.'

Shahzad Roy's Zindgi Trust moves IHC seeking directions to ban corporal punishment in educational institutions

'The federal government is also directed to advise the Private Education Institutions Regulatory Authority to issue guidelines to the private schools in the light of the above observations. The Ministry of Human Rights...