Torture by teacher in Larkana leaves student mute, paralysed

A student of Larkana Cadet College lost his senses due to alleged torture by a teacher.

After being strangulated, Mohammed Ahmed’s (14) sensitive neck bones were broken. He lost his speech and he suffered a paralytic attack which left his limbs motionless. He is on a liquid diet, as he can neither digest nor chew solid food.

Ahmed’s father, Ghulam Ahmed, a teacher, said that the incident occurred four months ago and a few teachers from his school were responsible for bringing his son to this state. “On August 6, just after school reopened after summer vacations, I received a phone call from station master GM Bhatti saying that my son had suffered fits.”

He claimed that when he reached the school his son was covered with injuries on his face, chest, head, back and lower limbs.

After failing to get satisfactory treatment from doctors in Larkana, he came to Karachi where health experts pointed out that the condition had been caused due to assault.

His medical treatment is possible in the United States, doctors have said, but his parents claim they don’t have the resources to take him there.

“I have six daughters, and I’ve spent all my savings on Ahmed,” Ghulam Ahmed wailed.

Education Secretary Fazlullah Pechuho took notice of the incident after a private channel aired the story. He promised to form a medical board and bear expenses for the treatment. “A medical board will examine the child and then make arrangements for his treatment,” he said speaking to the channel.

He also said that he had directed the DIG to register a case against the perpetrators.

The law makes any sort of corporal punishment in school illegal. Individuals found to be involved in corporal punishment would be sentenced to one year in prison or Rs 50,000 fine or both.

However, the practice remains entrenched in social norms of the country, with many teachers and parents believing corporal punishment a useful tool to discipline children.