In response to the resignation and allegations leveled by the Aitchison College Principal, Governor Punjab Balighur Rehman has responded by alleging a pattern of excessive vacation-taking by the principal, suggesting it was a tactic to avoid scrutiny.
According to the governor, the principal had tendered his resignation twice before, which was not accepted by the board due to the absence of a successor. Nonetheless, the principal’s resignation was set to take effect in August 2024.
Governor Rehman further disclosed that the appointment of a new principal for Aitchison College has been finalized, with the individual slated to assume the position next month. He revealed that the outgoing principal had been receiving a salary of Rs 40 lakh, a figure that has undergone auditing.
Moreover, Governor Rehman alleged that the former principal had a history of taking over 100 vacations annually, purportedly utilizing this strategy to evade inquiries.
Regarding Ahad Cheema and his children, the governor clarified that Cheema, due to professional obligations, had been stationed in Islamabad for a year. As a result, Cheema’s children were unable to attend Aitchison College, and a request was made to waive their fees for the classes they missed.
Earlier on Monday, reports emerged in media stating that Michael A. Thomson, the Principal of Aitchison College in Lahore, has resigned from his position following disagreements with Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman.
Thomson conveyed his departure through a farewell letter addressed to his staff, citing concerns over what he termed as the Governor House’s interference, which he believes has disrupted the institution’s governance. He expressed his frustration, stating that the implementation of “partial steps” by the Governor House has adversely affected the school’s functioning. Thomson asserted that he felt compelled to resign due to what he described as detrimental alterations to policies aimed at benefiting a select few individuals.
The principal’s decision to resign stemmed from tensions with the governor, particularly regarding the waiver of fines imposed on the children of a federal minister. Thomson indicated that the discord had taken a toll on his mental well-being. In his communication with the staff, he emphasized the importance of maintaining a non-political and nepotism-free environment within educational institutions, criticizing what he perceived as excessive interference in the school’s affairs.
