ISLAMABAD: The sudden closure of a number of educational institutions in the federal capital due to ‘security concerns’ on Monday caused panic among the residents of Islamabad as parents were seen rushing to pick up their children after receiving emergency calls from schools.

When the administrations of the universities, affiliated with the armed forces, had already sent messages to the students late on Sunday night, informing them about the closure of the universities due to some “unavoidable circumstances”, some of the upscale educational institutions took the decision on Monday morning after the students had already started attending the classes.

As there were no official words from the authorities concerned, the social media remained abuzz with all kinds of speculations that the educational institutions had been closed down due to a terror threat.

Officers of the capital police, when contacted, confirmed that a threat alert had been issued couple of days back by a security agency about possible terrorist attack on educational institutions. They said security measures had been tightened.

Parents seen rushing to pick up kids after receiving emergency calls; IGP plays down reports about possible terror attack; number of universities to remain closed today

Later, in a video statement, Inspector General of Police Islamabad Dr Akbar Nasir said that the security and law and order situation in Islamabad was “under control”.

At the moment, the situation in Islamabad did not call for residents to disturb heir daily routine and stop going to schools or colleges, he said, advising the residents not to pay heeds to rumors. He said illegal gatherings were banned in the capital.

Despite the IGP’s assurance, several universities will remain closed today (Tuesday) as well due to “security reasons” as they have already informed the students through messages.

“I was puzzled when I received a message on Sunday night regarding closure of the university on Monday. I kept thinking hours the reasons as on Monday, was reserved for exams,” said a parent of a student.

Mohmmad Ali, a resident of G-6, said that after dropping his kids in the school in H-8, he came back to home and slept after switching off the phone. In the meanwhile, the school administration tried to contact him, but failed.

It was around 12.30pm that I received a call from the school asking me to pick up the children who had been waiting for me for more than an hour,” he said, adding that when he reached the school, his kids were terrified and visibly upset after knowing the reason for the early pack-up.

Mr Ali said it seemed that the universities which had sent messages to the students on Sunday night had already been informed about the possible threats and the same should have been conveyed to the managements of other schools and institutions to avoid panic like situation.

Another resident said that he and his wife both were working and after dropping their daughter in the school, they had gone to their offices, but they had to rush to the school to pick their daughter when the school contacted them.

Speaking to Dawn, an official of the Quaid-i-Azam (QAU) University, however, said the university was not closed because of any threat, rather there was a strike of students against university management. He said the university would remain closed on Tuesday (today) as well.

An official of Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (Peira) said there was no threat to private schools, rather following closure of few universities, managements of some schools on their own decided to close down their institutions.

“We received a number of calls from parents to get update and we informed them that there are no instructions from the government to close the schools,” he said.

Peira Chairperson Zia Batool said the authority had not asked any school for closure, adding that the schools will remain open on Tuesday as per routine.

Similarly, a senior officer of the education ministry expressed his ignorance about any security alert, stating that all the public sector schools remained open on Monday and would continue to remain open as per routine.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2024