LAHORE, Aug 31: The Pakistani students of London Metropolitan University and their families were in a state of shock on Friday over an ‘abrupt’ decision by the United Kingdom Border Agency, cancelling the university’s licence to give admission to students from outside the European Union.

The decision, being described by the students as harassment, may lead to deportation of non-EU students from Britain.

Some students and their families in Lahore made frantic calls at the university’s regional office here to know the exact situation and express concern over the UKBA’s decision.

A university official here told Dawn “there are lots of students in Pakistan who will be affected by the decision”.

Most of the Pakistani students belong to Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad.

The BBC reported on Thursday that over 2,000 students faced deportation after the cancellation of the London Metropolitan University’s licence.

The UKBA had blamed that student attendance at the university was not being monitored and that many had no right to be in London.

As a result, it said, the university would no longer be allowed to authorise visas.

The report said the UKBA might issue notices giving non-EU students 60 days to leave or be deported.

The agency said the university had “failed to address serious and systemic failings” in three particular areas identified six months ago.

In London, a group of students held a demonstration outside 10 Downing Street soon after the decision was announced on Thursday.

Describing the UKBA’s decision as harassment, a student in Lahore said the news came at a time when they were making preparation to leave for London to take up their classes by mid-September.

Relatives of some students in Lahore said the decision was shocking because it might result in deportation of some 2,000 non-EU students.

One Qaiser said his brother was studying at the university for three years and how he could be deported when he had done no wrong.

Muhammad Nasir said the UK government should allow bona fide students to complete their education and identify the delinquent ones for deportation.