A large number of police officers were stationed outside the Governor House in Lahore on Tuesday as students and parents gathered to protest in support of Principal Michael A Thomson. He resigned from his position due to disagreements with the Punjab governor regarding leave of absence and fee waivers for the sons of Federal Minister Ahad Cheema.
The protesters carried signs backing the principal and called for an end to political interference in the affairs of the prestigious educational institution. Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, a heavy police presence, including water cannons and barriers, was observed.
“We’re not sure why there’s such a strong police presence here. We’re just parents of school children exercising our right to protest peacefully. We’re not a political group, and we don’t pose any threat of violence,” said a parent of one of the students present at the protest.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) strongly criticized the Punjab governor’s involvement in the school’s affairs. They called for an investigation and action against those responsible, including Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman. The PTI spokesperson accused the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders of a longstanding pattern of destroying institutions, including the police, administration, and judiciary, and now targeting one of the country’s top educational institutions.
