Aitchison College principal resigns after Punjab Governor directs him to waive fees of minister's sons

Lahore's Aitchison College principal, Michael A Thomson, has tendered his resignation after the Punjab Governor, Baligh Ur Rehman, ordered him to waive the fees of Federal Minister of Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema's sons, sources said on Monday.

The matter came to light when Thomson penned a letter to his staff detailing how politics within the institution forced him to step down from the top post.

"[...] Throughout my time as principal, I have done my very best to protect the school's reputation while extending compassion to those in need. However, there is a crucial difference between this pursuit and blatant policy manufacturing to accommodate certain individuals because such people simply insist on preferential treatment. Politics and nepotism have no place in schools," the principal said in a letter.

"Over the past year, other prejudiced actions by Governor House have contributed to a breakdown of governance and management, under which I had to finally draw a line. It seems incredulous to me, and quite possibly to most other people, that a school so successful can be subjected to such unwarranted interference and brazen directives," he added. 

Thomson said that a "well-intentioned foreigner does not venture to another country with less than pure intent".

"And nor should that person act in any way to encourage or facilitate what he considers to be wrong."

Thomson further stated that he would bid farewell to the college on April 1 and "would not play any role in the management of upcoming admissions".

"Together, we have reshaped Aitchison. I remind you of your collective good and the immense impact you can continue to have on the next generation of emergent men. Let them not be idle, make them value integrity and the purpose of serving higher causes than simply oneself. In this way, the nation will prosper," he concluded.

Separately, another letter surfaced on social media, in which Governor Punjab ordered a fee waiver for Ahad Cheema's sons, Eisa Ahad Cheema and Mustafa Ahad Cheema.

However, Thomson didn't mention any specific political reason for his resignation in the letter but the decision was taken after the intervention by politicians in the prestigious college.