LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday issued notice to the Punjab government on a petition seeking free education for citizens.

Justice Shahid Waheed was hearing a petition moved by a local lawyer, pleading that free education is a fundamental right of every citizen under Article 25-A of the Constitution. It is the responsibility of the state to make arrangements for its timely provision, he added.

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The lawyer lamented that the state was not fulfilling its constitutional obligation and instead of providing free education to the citizens, they have been left at the mercy of the “private school mafia”. He claimed that the mafia was looting money with both hands in the name of fees.

The lawyer requested the court to issue directions to the government to provide free education to the citizens.

After hearing initial arguments, the court issued notice to the Punjab government.