Daily Times

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has suspended the federal government’s order about deportation of the Pak-Turk schools’ staffers on Friday.

A division bench headed by Justice Muneeb Akhtar suspended the interior ministry’s letters of rejecting the visa-extension of the Turkish staffers and further directing them to leave the country before November 20.

The court issued notices to the interior secretary and deputy attorney general to respond to the petition – signed by at least 34 – that declares the letters as illegal and unconstitutional, by December 13.

The court was further requested to restrain the authorities from deporting the Turkish employees of the foundation and their families and to order the extension of their visas.

The petitioners submitted that the government’s decision of not extending their visas was bound to have devastating consequences for over 11,000 students studying in 26 schools across the country.

“The right of education – under Article 25-A of the country’s constitution – is not only placed merely an obligation on the state to provide education but also to ensure that the education provided is of the highest standards and quality,” the petition said.

“The exceptional standard of quality education provided at the schools is largely depended on the hard-working Turkish teachers, who have helped the students achieve excellence,” the petition further said.

Pak-Turk Schools – which were launched in 1995 – are located in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Multan, Karachi, Hyderabad, Khairpur, Jamshoro and Quetta.