Islamabad universities cordoned off after security threat

Interior minister visits Allama Iqbal University to supervise security measures

ISLAMABAD: Several universities in the federal capital were cordoned off on Wednesday following a security alert.

According to reports, National University of Modern Languages (NUML), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Quaid-e-Azam University and Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) were on high alert.



Law enforcement agencies cordoned off the universities following the terror alert and security was deployed on campuses. “No individual is allowed to enter or leave the campus buildings,” a source told The Express Tribune.

“Not even the employees are allowed to enter the varsities in their vehicles,” the source added.

Following the terror alert at the varsities, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar supervised security arrangements at the campuses. “The interior minister visited Allama Iqbal University at 8:30am to supervise security measures,” the source said.

Last month, the United States advised its citizens to avoid the area around Islamabad’s Marriott hotel in the wake of an imminent terror threat.



“The embassy is aware of a general but uncorroborated threat against the Marriott hotel in Islamabad. US citizens are advised to avoid the area for the next several days to allow time to assess the situation,” said an advisory posted on the website of the US embassy in Islamabad.

The embassy reminded US citizens there was an active travel warning for Pakistan issued on April 7, 2016 and a worldwide travel alert issued on November 23, 2015.

“US citizens are urged to defer all non-essential travel to Pakistan. US citizens in Pakistan are strongly urged to avoid hotels that do not apply stringent security measures,” the statement said.