Lawmakers in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly identified a significant legal flaw on Tuesday regarding the five percent job quota for minorities, noting that teacher quota vacancies in KP remain unfilled in several northern districts.
Highlighting the absence of non-Muslim candidates in these regions, members of the provincial assembly (MPAs) argued that the current rigid policy prevents the hiring of local Muslim candidates for these reserved seats. This legislative bottleneck has resulted in a severe shortage of teaching staff, directly impacting the academic performance of students in government schools.
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Constitutional Rights and Local Realities
MPA Ubaidur Rehman of Lower Dir initiated the discussion through a calling attention notice, emphasizing that the vacancies obstruct the fundamental right to education guaranteed under Article 25-A of the Constitution.
Rehman noted that while the government filled minority quota positions with local candidates in 2022, the current policy lacks a clear mechanism for districts where no minority population exists.
“This situation not only raises questions about the effective implementation of the policy but also practically harms the education system,” Rehman stated, urging the administration to devise an alternative policy.
The ruling PTI’s MPA, Anwar Khan, supported the motion, confirming that the unavailability of non-Muslims has halted teacher appointments in multiple union councils of Upper Dir. Despite repeated advertisements, these teacher quota vacancies in KP remain empty because the region lacks a non-Muslim demographic.
Ministerial Response and Committee Referral
Responding to the concerns, Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Arshad Ayub acknowledged that existing laws allow for recruitment from adjacent districts or divisions if a candidate is unavailable at the district level. However, Ayub admitted that the law remains silent on protocols when a minority candidate is unavailable even at the divisional level.
At the request of the minister and the mover, the chair referred the matter to the relevant house committee for a detailed discussion and formal recommendations.
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Deforestation Crisis in South Waziristan
The session also pivoted to environmental concerns as MPA Asif Khan Mehsud informed the house of “ruthless” deforestation occurring in the South Waziristan tribal district. Mehsud questioned the selective targeting of centuries-old forests, contrasting the destruction of trees with the demolition of houses during anti-militant operations.
“I have videos of tree felling and can share them with the speaker as well as Treasury and opposition members,” Mehsud stated, highlighting that the rapid loss of forest cover has created panic among residents. He formally requested the chair to establish a house committee to investigate the logging and check the environmental degradation in the region. Following these deliberations, the chair adjourned the session.
