Ahad Cheema withdraws demand of 'fee waiver' for his children following backlash

Following a severe public backlash, Federal Minister of Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema has withdrawn his demand to provide free education to his children in Lahore's prestigious Aitchison College.

The fee waiver matter came to light after the educational institution's principal Michael A Thomson tendered his resignation after the Punjab Governor Baligh Ur Rehman ordered him to waive the fees of Ahad Cheema's sons.

Ahad Cheema wrote a letter to the Punjab Governor to inform that the letter was written with regard to the matter of leave of absence of his children, who were studying at Aitchison College. 

"After having considered the matter for more than a year, you were kind enough to issue a new policy on this subject on the representation of my spouse," Cheema wrote in a letter.

"The new policy that waives off the fee when a student is not studying at the College is just, fair, equitable and against the traditional elitist mindset and therefore, is highly appreciated amongst the general parent body," he added.

The federal minister said that his spouse struggled for the cause for more than one and a half years.

Cheema further stated that Aitchison College has triggered a strange and pointless controversy, which was allegedly orchestrated by a Principal "who has already resigned and is on his way out". 

"The Principal's brazen and high-headed refusal of Board's and Chairman's policy decisions is unheard of. Regrettably, politics has overshadowed the solution-oriented and responsive policy issued by you [Governor Punjab], Cheema noted.

"My family has suffered mockery, slur and a vilification campaign in this episode just because of my being in public office," he said.

Cheema urged the governor to "not relent on the principle and not withdraw the new policy under any nefarious pressure."

"[...] the policy is going to be very helpful for students and their parents in times to come," he concluded.