Islamabad,(Parliament Times):Senior leader All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and Chairman Jammu Kashmir Salvation Movement (JKSM), Altaf Ahmed Bhat, has strongly condemned the takeover of dozens of schools in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), terming the move a calculated and condemnable assault on education, civil liberties, and institutional independence.
In a deeply alarming development, the Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered the takeover of management committees of 58 schools on the basis of alleged affiliations with the proscribed Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and its affiliate Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT).
In a statement issued today, Bhat said that such actions are part of a broader and systematic policy aimed at dismantling independent educational institutions and tightening state control over the intellectual and ideological space in the region. He described the move as “politically driven and deeply unjust,” warning that it will have far-reaching consequences for the future of Kashmiri students.
“Education cannot and must not be turned into a battleground for political agendas,” Bhat said. “Targeting schools under the pretext of alleged affiliations reflects an attempt to control minds by weakening independent institutions and undermining the educational foundation of society.”
Bhat pointed out that this is not an isolated action, recalling that on August 22, 2025, the authorities had similarly taken over the management of 215 schools affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami and Falah-e-Aam Trust across the territory. “This repeated targeting of educational institutions clearly indicates a sustained campaign to erode institutional autonomy and suppress community-based initiatives,” he said.
He warned that such measures will create uncertainty and fear among students, parents, and teachers, ultimately affecting the continuity and quality of education despite official assurances. “When schools are subjected to abrupt administrative takeovers, the learning environment inevitably suffers,” he added.
Altaf Ahmed Bhat expressed serious concern over the use of stringent laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act to justify administrative actions against educational institutions, stating that such laws are increasingly being used as instruments of control rather than justice.
He urged the international community, human rights organizations, and global education bodies to take immediate notice of the situation and raise their voice against actions that undermine the right to education and institutional independence in the region.
