Schools ordered to shut down over 'President Mamnoon's visit' to Quetta

Deputy commissioner directs closure of schools to 'streamline security arrangements'

QUETTA: Four schools in Quetta have been ordered to shut down for two days during the reported visit of President Mamnoon Hussain to a varsity in the metropolis on Wednesday.

"The VVIP visit to Quetta is scheduled on April 3 to 4 and your school falls on the route," said a notification, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, by the office of the deputy commissioner on Monday.

The schools are, namely, Saint Francis Grammar located on Zarghoon road, Sacred Heart and Saint Joseph’s Convent in Model Town and Wilderness school on Baleli road.



"You are therefore directed to close the school on April 3 to 4 so that proper security arrangements can be streamlined to avoid any inconvenience to the VVIP and [the] school-going children," the communique added.

While it wasn't specified in the notification as to who the VVIP was, reports suggested President Mamnoon Hussain will be visiting Sardar Bahadur Khan Women varsity to attend the convocation ceremony as the chief guest on Wednesday.

Earlier today, the president arrived in Quetta on a two-day visit and was received at the airport by Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai, Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and the chief secretary.