ISLAMABAD: Security concerns have led to the indefinite closure of three universities in Islamabad, according to sources within the university administrations, as reported by a private TV channel on Monday.
The decision to close down Bahria, Air, and National Defence Universities followed a search operation conducted by security agencies in the suburbs of Islamabad late Sunday. Directives for the closure were issued by the respective administrations of these universities.
Late at night, university students were informed about the indefinite closure, which has also impacted the final examinations for the students, according to insider information.
In the midst of heightened security measures in the federal capital due to upcoming elections and ongoing sit-ins by Baloch protesters at the press club, the closure further raises concerns. Police sources revealed that security has already been intensified in anticipation of potential disruptions.
A day prior, Balochistan Caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai, addressing a press conference in Quetta, criticized the Baloch demonstrators participating in a sit-in protest against enforced disappearances in Islamabad. He claimed that those labeled as missing persons were actually terrorists killed in Iran, referring to Pakistan’s strikes inside Iran.
The provincial information minister expressed suspicions about the motives behind the Baloch protesters’ sit-in, suggesting potential disruptions to law and order. He emphasized the possibility of individuals wearing masks at the sit-in being associated with banned terrorist outfits.
In 2023, Pakistan experienced 1,524 violence-related fatalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations. The Annual Security Report released by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) last month highlighted nearly 1,000 fatalities among civilians and security forces personnel.
The overall fatalities, including those of outlaws, reached a six-year high, surpassing the 2018 level and marking the highest since 2017. The country witnessed a surge in violence for the third consecutive year, with an uptick recorded each year since 2021.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
