An official inquiry into allegations of tree cutting at the Government Degree Boys College, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, has concluded that no trees were felled on the premises and that the viral social media video was “false, baseless and misleading”.
According to a visit report compiled by an inquiry committee constituted on April 20, 2026, the probe was initiated after a video clip circulating on social media claimed that trees were being cut within the college premises, drawing significant public attention.
The committee visited the college on April 21 and conducted a detailed inquiry, recording statements of teaching and non-teaching staff as well as from the college principal. The report notes that several staff members, including clerical and support personnel, were individually interviewed to ascertain facts.
A physical inspection of the site highlighted in the viral video revealed that the area in question was covered with dense bushes and wild grass. The committee found that only routine maintenance work, including the clearing of bushes and grass, had been carried out. “No tree was present at the site, nor was there any evidence to suggest that any tree had been cut,” the report stated.
During the inquiry, it emerged that a senior clerk, Aijaz Bhutto, had recorded and circulated the video on social media. The report noted that he had personal differences with the principal and admitted before the committee that he had prepared and shared the clip. Staff members unanimously condemned the act, terming it defamatory and harmful to the institution’s reputation.
The committee concluded that the allegations were unfounded and recommended disciplinary proceedings against the official concerned under the Sindh Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 1973. It also suggested that the matter may be referred to the FIA Cyber Crime Wing under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, for spreading misleading content online.
Additionally, the report recommended possible transfer of the employee as an interim administrative measure and called for improved monitoring, communication, and maintenance mechanisms within the college to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In a separate written statement, the college principal denied prior knowledge of any such incident and clarified that only instructions for clearing hazardous vegetation had been issued, not for cutting trees.
