Campus security: PTI’s march plan sparks safety fears

Varsities situated on, around Raiwind Road may be closed on Sept 30

LAHORE: Students and their parents have demanded the educational institutions situated on and around Raiwind Road be shut down on September 30 (Friday) as a security precaution in view of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s anti-government rally.

Party insiders claim as many as 200,000 people are expected to come out on the streets.

“A large number of PTI workers will march towards Adda Plot [on Raiwind Road] and will clog all the main arteries leading up to the venue probably for the whole day,” Abdul Hameed, whose son is a BS student at University of Lahore, said while speaking to The Express Tribune. “I’m worried about the safety of my son, who commutes daily to his varsity located on Raiwind Road.”

Several universities and colleges, including Beaconhouse National University (BNU) and Superior University are situated in the area, while COMSATS Institute of Information Technology and University of Central Punjab (UCP) are located at a distance, but could be affected when the crowd moves towards Adda Plot.

“My daughter studies at a private university in the area, I’m worried about her safety on the day,” said Mian Rehman, another parent.

Imran Shabbir, a student at BNU, said he commutes on his motorcycle and was worried about September 30 – the day of PTI’s rally. Other students and parents expressed similar concerns. A few students said they would skip classes for the day to avoid any untoward incident.

Another more pressing concern involves the conflict between supporters of PTI and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

The administration of several universities told The Express Tribune they were still deliberating over the issue, but no decision was taken till this report was filed.

The BNU spokesperson said the administration was aware of the concerns, but a decision had not been taken yet.

An official of Superior University said the varsity would be closed, but a formal decision had yet to be taken and the announcement was expected in the coming week.

A spokesperson of UCP said their varsity would not be affected by the march because of the construction that was under way outside the university. He said UCP was in the process of admissions and students would not be present in the university on the day.

When contacted, DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf told The Express Tribune so far the police had not given any instructions for institutes in the area. He said all vulnerable establishments in the area would be secured before and during PTI’s rally.

PTI officially announced the venue of the rally on September 21 and was in the process of making arrangements for the march.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2016.