ISLAMABAD: The 20-day long sit-in by Tehreek-e-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) activists, and the subsequent violent clashes that erupted between the law enforcement agencies and the protestors following the government’s decision to crackdown on the protestors, has caused serious law and order situation due to which all educational institutions in the federal capital will remain closed on Monday (November 27).
All universities, including Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU), International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), and all government and private schools and colleges would remain closed for the safety and security of the general public.
Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) and All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association (APPSCA) announced that all the government and private schools and colleges would remain closed on November 27 due to precarious and uncertain security situation as a result of violent clashes between supporters of religious parties, mainly TLYR, and police and other security personnel across the country. Law enforcement agencies acted under court orders on Saturday to disperse the protesters who had camped outside Islamabad and had blocked the Faizabad Interchange since November 8.
In an announcement on Sunday, the Punjab government announced the closure of all educational institutes for the next two days, owing to fragile law and order situation in the province.
Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) and the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) postponed all medical examinations due to the present unrest. The MBBS, MD, FCPS, along with nursing and medical technology examinations of the university and PIMS, were scheduled for Monday and later postponed sine die.
Similarly, the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) had also postponed all its exams across the country and new dates in this regard would be announced later.
Besides, Federal Urdu University Islamabad vice chancellor instructed all faculty/staff and students that the university would remain closed on November 27 due to high probability of violent clashes in the city.
Talking to Pakistan Today, QAU spokesperson confirmed that the university would remain closed due to prevailing law and order situation in the country, particularly in Punjab province.
On the other hand, IIUI spokesperson said that the varsity would also remain closed for one day and a decision regarding commencement of classes would be taken after viewing the security situation in the capital.
General Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) Director Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi said that due to the tense security situation in the country, all the government-run schools and colleges would remain closed on November 27.
He said that the educational institutes would remain closed for one day only, after which a decision would be taken by keeping the security situation in view.
According to FDE notification, “FDE hereby announce that all educational institutional under the administrative control of FDE shall remain close on Monday (Nov 27) owing to the present law and order situation in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.”
APPSCA General Secretary (central) Muhammad Ashraf Hiraj and Private Schools Network (PSN) President Dr Muhammad Afzal Babur announced that due to security issues, all Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association and all PSN member institutions would remain closed on Monday (Nov 27).