Summary ICT authorities and the Punjab government instructed all the private schools to increase security.
Dunya News Report (Humaira Sajid)
ISLAMABAD- Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) authorities and the Punjab government reviewed in detail the overall law and order situation in the province and instructed all the private educational institutions to adopt a comprehensive security arrangement to avoid any heinous incidents as such of Charsadda.
CM Punjab orders for security measures in educational institutions
Recently the Punjab Chief Minister presided over a high level meeting and passed the orders in light of the earlier deadly Charsadda attacks that left 20 martyred. The orders state that the educational institution will not be allowed to work in case of ineffective security measures.
Speaking on the occasion, the CM Punjab expressed his sympathies with the bereaved families of the martyrs of Bacha Khan University. He said that Punjab government and its citizens stand united with the people of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa in this hour of grief.
Shahbaz Sharif ordered foolproof security measures to be taken by all educational institutes and a complete implementation of security plan. He further directed security workforce to remain fully alert and take proper security measures for life and property of the masses.
Important decisions were made during a meeting presided by Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Shahbaz Sharif which include orders to regularly check vehicles being employed for the transportation of students and made sure that they are parked at safer place; daily basis visit by special committees of the Punjab government to the A-category schools in order to analyze the security arrangements; complete identification and verification shall be conducted of polio and measles vaccination teams before allowed to enter schools and educational institutions; presence of irrelevant individuals within 30 meters of the institute during the start and end of school day will not be allowed; moreover, security at all bus stands, railway stations and public places must be further tightened.
Meanwhile intelligence department has also been advised to conduct search operations in other areas while the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has been ordered to remain vigilant at all times.
Procedure for the issuance of NOCs to educational institutions
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.
Sajid Kiani (SSP) said that there were no threats received by any educational institution in capital, however, police has made fool-proof security arrangements in capital in wake of the dreadful episode of Charsadda University carnage.
ICT Additional Deputy Commissioner Abdul Sattar Isani briefed in the meeting that security guidelines have been forwarded to the administration of educational institutes of the capital city and they were instructed to make fool-proof security arrangements of their respective premises. Moreover, institutes are commissioned to appoint young and well-trained security guards to ascertain the safety of students.
No foolproof security arrangements in QAU and IIUI
In 2009, the International Islamic University which was attacked by two suicide bombers and Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad unfortunately still lacks foolproof security. On the condition of anonymity a source said that security wing of the universities are appallingly untrained and comprise of unequipped security staff. A security guard of one of the universities said while talking to the media: “Initially, only few guards had the guns and if they are still having then these are 12-bore guns which cannot be used to counter the terrorists in case of any assault as it was noticed that terrorists attacked with automatic weapons both in the case of APS Peshawar and Bacha Khan University Charsadda.”
On the other hand, the administration of universities claimed to have formed a committee for formulating suitable security arrangements and blamed CDA for delay in the completion of boundary walls saying that CDA has restricted them not to construct boundary wall which allows anyone to easily reach inside the university without any resistance.
