LHC orders release of 114 detained teachers in Punjab

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered the immediate release of 114 teachers who had been detained in Punjab during a protest against the privatisation of schools.

The LHC’s decision, led by Justice Shakeel Ahmed, marks a crucial milestone in the ongoing debate over privatization and labor rights in the education sector.

The detention orders, which had sparked widespread controversy and legal challenges, were originally issued by Deputy Commissioners in various districts of Punjab.

2,000 govt schools closed in Rawalpindi for past ten days due to teachers strike

These orders were met with strong opposition and were challenged through a series of petitions, ultimately leading to the teachers’ cases being brought before the Lahore High Court for adjudication.

Justice Shakeel Ahmed, presiding over the case, declared the detention orders “null and void,” emphasizing that they ran contrary to the principles of justice and human rights.

Thousands of teachers across Punjab have imposed an ‘educational boycott’ in the province’s schools ever since the caretaker government has announced its controversial decision to privatise 1,000 public schools.