In a scathing judicial intervention, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has lambasted the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government for its 18-year failure to reconstruct educational institutions devastated by the catastrophic 2005 earthquake.
Judicial Fury Over Education Neglect
The three-member bench, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, expressed outrage during proceedings concerning the prolonged delay in rebuilding schools across the earthquake-affected regions of KPK. The court discovered that despite the passage of nearly two decades, numerous schools remain in ruins, depriving thousands of students of their fundamental right to education.
Shocking Revelations in Court
During the hearing, the bench highlighted several alarming issues:
- Multiple schools in Mansehra and other affected districts still operate without proper buildings
- Government officials provided conflicting information about reconstruction progress
- Funds allocated for rebuilding have not been properly utilized
- No satisfactory explanation for the 18-year delay
Government's Contradictory Stance
The court proceedings revealed significant contradictions in the government's position. While the KPK advocate general claimed reconstruction was complete, evidence presented showed otherwise. Chief Justice Isa emphasized that "the future of our children cannot be sacrificed to bureaucratic incompetence" and demanded concrete action plans.
Immediate Actions Ordered
The Supreme Court has issued clear directives:
- Immediate submission of detailed reconstruction plans
- Transparent accounting of all allocated funds
- Regular progress reports to the court
- Personal responsibility assigned to senior officials
The court has made it unequivocally clear that further delays will not be tolerated, setting the stage for what could become a landmark case in educational accountability and disaster response in Pakistan.
