Pakistan’s Senior Lawyer ridicules Ex-PoK PM’s remarks
ARJUMAND WANI
SRINAGAR, May 27: The disbursement of Rs 45 Crore scholarships by the government of Jammu and Kashmir among its tribal students has evoked a debate across LoC with a senior lawyer ridiculing the former Prime Minister of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir for his awkward remarks.
The debate started on Saturday when a news about the disbursement of scholarship money among the tribal students was flashed on the internet. The announcement broke out a war of words between the former PoK Prime Minister Raja Mohamamd Farooq Haider Khan and senior lawyer and former Pak civil servant Khalid Yousaf Choudary on twitter.
Apparently embarrassed by the highest ever scholarships being given away among the tribal students in Jammu and Kashmir, the Raja Mohamamd Farooq Haider Khan took to twitter and wrote: “It is only to divide people of J&K on the issue of language.”
In its response, Choudary in a tweet drew former PM’s attention towards the poor education and health infrastructure of schools in PoJK. “Maharaj Azad Kashmir main tou Dhang ka ek School nahin, emaratain nahin, schoolon main washrooms aur pani ka intizaam nahin, haspataal ka koi haal nahin, Pindi, Abottabad refer ke bagair koie nuskha nahin, tou kaiese Jammu wae Kashmir ke awaam ko taqseem kiya jasakta hai?”
Pertinently, there is a stark contrast between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) when it comes to the school and other civic amenities infrastructure. While Jammu and Kashmir has made significant strides in improving educational facilities, PoK continues to grapple with inadequate infrastructure that hampers the learning environment for students.
Credible data available on the internet reveals that in PoK, many schools suffer from a lack of basic facilities such as classrooms, desks, chairs, and proper sanitation. The shortage of classrooms forces students to study in cramped spaces or even outdoors, making it challenging for them to focus on their studies. Insufficient seating arrangements result in discomfort for students, impacting their ability to concentrate during lessons. Moreover, the absence of proper sanitation facilities, including clean toilets, poses a significant health risk for students and hampers their overall well-being.
Similarly, PoK schools face a shortage of textbooks, teaching materials, and technological aids such as computers and projectors. The absence of these resources restricts the ability of teachers to deliver comprehensive lessons and limits students’ exposure to diverse learning materials. This imbalance puts PoK students at a disadvantage compared to their counterparts in Jammu and Kashmir, where efforts have been made to provide better access to quality educational resources.
