A British major, who founded a remote school in Pakistan that educated half of the country’s government, has retired at the age of 94. Major Geoffrey Langlands has decided to retire five years after launching a search for a successor to run the school in North Waziristan. The mountainous area is known to be a tribal region that borders Afghanistan and has been occupied by al-Qaeda terrorists and Taliban fighters. A new British head teacher is expected to fly to the school in September, while Major Langlands will move to Lahore. According to the Telegraph, the Major will be writing a biography, as well as raising funds to make sure the school remains open. He told the publication, “It won’t be all rest. There’s a biography I’m working on and I’ll still be raising funds to ensure the future of the school.” Prior to opening the school, the principle volunteered to join the British Indian army and continued to serve as a soldier during India and Pakistan’s partition in 1947. After spending six years as an adviser to the Pakistan Army, he educated young men at Aithcison College, who would become the country’s future politicians. During the 1980s, the Mayor was approached to run a new school on North Waziristan with the knowledge that he would instil the British values of duty and punctuality. Shortly after being appointed, the new headmaster was kidnapped by military men, who believed that president General Zia ul-Haq would overturn an election result if he knew one of his friends was in danger.
