ISLAMABAD: Authorities have ordered the closure of 24 government educational institutions in the federal capital from Tuesday, September 22, to accommodate additional police personnel deployed ahead of planned long marches by Jamaat-i-Islami and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.
The affected institutions have been placed under the control of the district administration and police, according to sources. Teaching activities will be suspended at these campuses, while principals and non-teaching staff will continue to report for duty. Teachers and students will remain away from the institutions.
Key rooms and laboratories have also been directed to remain locked. The Federal Directorate of Education has not announced any policy regarding online classes or alternative arrangements.
The affected institutions are:
- IMS (I-V), G-6/2, Luqman Hakim Road
- IMS (I-V), G-6/1/2
- IMSG (I-VIII), G-6/2
- IMS (I-V), F-6/4
- IMS (I-VIII), G-6/1/4
- IMS (I-V), F-7/2/4
- IMS (I-V), G-7/3/1
- IMCB F-7/3 College
- IMSB G-7/3/1 (Bangali School)
- IMSB Noor Pur Shahan (Bari Imam)
- IMSB (I-VIII), Malpur
- IMSB (I-V), Taman, near Sangjani, Margalla Road
- IMCB G-13/2, Street No. 53
- IMSB (I-V), Tarnol
- IMS (I-V), G-10/4
- IMS (I-V), No. 1, G-8/1
- IMCB Pahag Panwal
- IMCB Sihala
- IMSB (I-V), Rawal Dam
- IMCB H-9 College
- IMS (I-V), No. 4, G-9/2
- IMS (I-V), No. 3, G-9/3
- IMS (I-V), No. 1, I-9/4
- IMS (I-V), I-10/2
All other educational institutions in Islamabad are expected to remain open. Authorities have also placed containers at key roads leading into the capital as part of heightened security arrangements.
In neighbouring Rawalpindi, Punjab Police have sought the closure of 48 educational institutions to accommodate more than 15,000 police personnel being brought in from different districts of Punjab.
The proposed accommodation includes 21 institutions in Rawalpindi city, 10 in Taxila, five in Gujar Khan, three in Kallar Syedan and six near the Chakri Interchange. The additional force is expected to be deployed in phases, with the arrangements potentially continuing until October 1.
However, Rawalpindi District Education Authority Chief Executive Officer Yasin Baloch said on September 21 that educational institutions would remain open as usual and that a fresh order would be issued if police personnel were deployed at the schools. This means the closure of the 48 institutions was not yet formally confirmed at the time of the statement.
The security arrangements come amid several planned protests and marches in and around the twin cities. Jamaat-i-Islami’s train march is scheduled to reach Rawalpindi on September 22, while PTI has announced a long march towards Islamabad for September 27.
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