EDO Education Shamsher Khan said an application had been sent to Education Department secretary asking them to allow arms licences for security guards and watchmen. STOCK IMAGE
Some 400 students of Government Postgraduate College for Boys in Sahiwal on Wednesday protested against the college administration for the confusion surrounding the college’s reopening.
The protest broke out after the manager of a motorbike stand near the college turned away students early in the morning, informing them that the college had not re-opened.
Ali Abbasi, a second year student, told newsmen, he was not allowed to park his motorbike in the parking stand. He said some students were arguing with the men manning the stand.
“They told us that the college was closed,” he said. “We tried to tell them that the university had not informed us about it.”
He said the argument got heated and the men hit some of the students. He said many students had come from more than 40 kilometres away.
He said five of them were injured. He said later, more students arrived and protested against the university.
He said the school was being mismanaged and that no clear schedule for January exams had been issued.
Students chanted slogans against the school administration and urged the government to take notice of the situation.
Principal Naseem Hasan told newsmen that students had been given time to prepare for January exams. He said the college would re-open on Thursday (today).
He said the former principal of the college had retired on January 8. He said the college administration needed time to devise course outlines before classes started.
The college, the biggest in Sahiwal, has nearly 3,500 students studying at intermediate level.
In Multan, 112 academic institutions remained closed or were shut down by police after their security arrangements were found to be inadequate.
Multan DCO Zahid Saleem Gondal said FIRs had been registered against owners of private schools and principals of public schools who had not completed security arrangements before reopening.
He said schools had been strictly advised against reopening before ensuring fool proof security.
He said schools should complete their arrangements by January 15.
He said schools sealed by the district administration would require a no-objection certificate from the Education Department.
He said weapons had not been provided to watchmen and security guards deputed around colleges and schools.
EDO Education Shamsher Khan said an application had been sent to Education Department secretary asking them to allow arms licences for security guards and watchmen.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 15th, 2015.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ