Educational institutes closed in Punjab over security fears
More than 230 educational institutions including 138 government-run schools sealed in Punjab.
DUNYA NEWS REPORT (HUMAIRA SAJID)
ISLAMABAD - Over 200 schools have been closed across Punjab on Thursday including 138 government-run schools and colleges were sealed following poor security measures observed in the schools and colleges.
The police and security officials briefed media and said the educational institutes have been sealed not because of the feigned reason of freezing temperatures provided earlier, but they have closed due to inadequate security.
Additionally, more than 53 educational institutes in the Rawalpindi division have been issued final warnings by security officials to improve security arrangements by Sunday, or the institute’s head would be booked.
Following the closure of schools across Punjab, as many as three universities were closed till January 31 on instruction from district authorities over poor security arrangements. These there varsities were Lahore College for Women University (LCWU), University of Engineering and Technology (UET) and Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), Multan. The BZU administration has also instructed boarding students to vacate hostels immediately.
In a freshly conducted survey of security arrangements at educational institutions by police officials and security agencies, 205 schools and colleges, including 127 government and 78 private institutions in Attock agency were found prone to terrorist activity.
During a meeting held in the capital, chaired by chief commissioner Islamabad it was decided to issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to all educational institutions after ensuring and analyzing their security arrangements. The meeting was attended by SSP Operations Sajid Khan, representatives of private schools and other concerned officials.
Acting Commissioner Sajid Zafar Dall while talking to media said that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, in a video link meeting, had ordered that the head of the institution that failed to take adequate security measures should be booked.
“At least 22 educational institutions in Rawalpindi, 15 in Jhelum, 10 in Attock and six in Chakwal have been sent final notices,” he said.
He said Rescue 1122 and the Civil Defence department had started training teaching staff in Rawalpindi, Gujar Khan and Taxila to deal with any untoward situation.
They would attend training sessions in their schools and colleges, adding that similar training would be imparted to students after their winter vacations.
However, in Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa (KPK) province where the majority of attacks on educational institutions have occurred, schools and colleges are kept open and academic activities are being carried on.
During a press conference held on Thursday, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan praised the government of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (KPK) saying they have set a good example by not closing schools in the province, adding that other provinces should also restrain from shutting educational institutes.
While opposing the policy of PML-N led Punjab government of the recent closure of schools he said: “I have serious differences [with the Punjab government] over the policy of closing schools because of some threats. We have to give the enemy a message of unity, to fight and defeat the evil of terrorism. We cannot confine ourselves to our homes out of fear.”
“Closing schools is not an appropriate answer to the terrorists. Closure of academic institution will be a psychological defeat. We will ask the Punjab (provincial) government to open schools as this is serving the purpose of spreading panic,” he added further.
On the other hand, Punjab Education Minister Rana Mashood, while talking to the media on Tuesday expressed that the sudden closure of the schools was necessary because students were falling ill and catching flu as the temperature in Punjab dropped down to four degree Celsius.
“Two days ago, the parents complained about harshness of the weather and diseases to children,” he said. “The meteorological office, too, told the government that the extreme cold wave would continue for another three to four days. We took all the stakeholders into confidence and made the decision to announce the holidays,” he further added.
