Aitchison College Principal Resigns Over Governance Dispute

Michael Thomson, the Principal of Lahore’s Aitchison College, has tendered his resignation following differences with Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman, according to sources.

In a farewell letter addressed to his staff, Principal Thomson cited “partial steps” taken by the Governor House as detrimental to the institution’s governance. He expressed concern over what he described as “destructive changes” to policies favoring select individuals.

According to sources, the conflict between the college and governor began over waiving fines handed to the sons of Federal Minister Ahad Cheema.

In his letter to the staff, he penned “You all know what’s is going on at the board level. There is no room for politics and nepotism in the schools. Too much interference in the affairs of school being run successfully is unbelievable,” he added.

The news comes weeks after multiple social media posts claimed that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had received ‘over 1,000 emails’ from students and parents at the college, where she had been invited for a founder’s day event.

Read also: Tarar Urges Aitchison College Principal to Reconsider Resignation

This isn’t the first time Thomson has resigned. In September 2018, he tendered his resignation but withdrew it after persuasion from the then-governor, Muhammad Sarwar. Thomson’s earlier resignation was reportedly prompted by pressure from political circles regarding disciplinary actions against certain students.

Founded in 1886, Aitchison is one of the oldest and most prestigious educational institutes in Pakistan. The sitting governor of Punjab has a say in the affairs of the college as the president of the board of governors.