Following the closure of schools across Punjab, as many as three universities were closed till January 31 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.
According to details, local police carried out a search operation in BZU and closed it over inadequate security arrangements. The hostels were also sealed and the students residing there were sent to their homes using varsity’s transport.
Senior police officer Azhar Akram said the university was closed as the administration had failed to take adequate security measures. He said the police and intelligence agencies had told the university administration to tighten the security, but they ignored the directives, prompting them to shut the hostel and the university.
The policeman further said that the university and its hostels would not be opened until the administration ensured security. He said the university hostels for boys and girls were also vacated. “The girls’ hostel was vacated in the morning to avoid any inconvenience,” added the CPO.
When contacted, BZU Vice Chancellor Dr Tahir Amin claimed that the university and its hostels had been closed for only two days after the police informed them about terror threats. He however claimed that the administration had taken adequate steps to ensure security of the university, and dispelled the impression that it had been sealed.
Meanwhile, at least four educational institutions have been sealed over poor security in Bahawalpur. Some 65 schools and colleges have been sealed in Khanewal. Educational institutions in other cities of Punjab including Daska and Sahiwal have also been closed.
In Faisalabad, the district administration issued notices to 75 educational institutions for poor security arrangements.
DCO Noorul Amin Mengal said that out of over 3,000 educational institutions of Faisalabad, 417 have been declared sensitive and notices were served on 75 for not ensuring proper security arrangement despite directives of the provincial government and district authorities.
He said that disciplinary action would be taken against the said institutions if they failed to ensure the required security arrangements within two days.