Zubair Qureshi
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday disposed of a petition that sought directions for online examination and sent it to the National Command & Operation Control to decide.
Chief Justice Athar Minallah while hearing a plea held that Supreme Court of Pakistan had made it clear courts would not interfere in education matters.
The petitioners’ counsel had submitted that coronavirus was spreading in the country while some private educational institutions had announced exams from March 9.
He has argued before the court that since students are already exposed to the virus with the government’s decision of reopening the educational institutions it would be unwise to expose them further by conducting exams at the examination halls/centres.
Rehanuddin Golarwi Advocate sought the court’s directions for the private schools to make it mandatory that they conducted online exams.
However, the chief justice disagreeing with his arguments observed the court would not make any decision on it.
He said when coronavirus spreads at schools it also affects the members of the students’ family.
The chief justice however, remarked the court would issue instructions to the NCOC to decide the matter within one day.
Meanwhile, Islamabad on Monday reported 221 new cases of coronavirus taking the overall number of cases to 45,740 in the federal capital.
This is something alarming for the city, commented a doctor at the Pakistan institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) as vaccination of general public above 60-years has also kick-started but still we are witnessing alarming rise in the cases, he said.
If we don’t take it seriously, we should be prepared for the third wave of coronavirus, he said, requesting not mention his name.
Residents of Islamabad had already expressed their concerns over holding of a three-day tourism festival at the F-9 park saying it might lead to the spread of Covid-19.
This causes not only environmental pollution but risk of virus spread as thousands of visitors, families, youths and stall holders in the festival are exposed to the virus and there are no proper measures being observed to prevent the virus, said they.
Under these circumstances holding festivals and exposing hundreds and thousands of participants to virus is simply unjustified, said a visitor to the park.
They left behind rubbish of all kinds and it would take the park staff days to remove them.
The festival held on March 5-7, 2021 featured a number of activities for the kids as well as the grown up.
There was a horse show, vintage car exhibition, motorbike racing and above all music concerts leaving little room for the people to keep distance or follow Covid-19 SOPs.
