Need-of-the-hour: Security beefed up at universities in City

DIG Ashraf chairs meeting to review security at institutions.

LAHORE: Operations DIG Haider Ashraf said on Wednesday that security had been beefed up at educational institutions across the city in the wake of the brazen attack on a school in Peshawar.

He was speaking at a meeting with officials from educational institutions at police lines. Ashraf expressed grief over the incident. He directed the officials to hire private security guards and post some of them on the rooftops of their premises.

Ashraf said the possibility of more terror attacks could not be ruled out as the military was engaged in an operation against militants in North Waziristan. He said they had the capability to strike any target nationwide. Ashraf said police were striving to ensure foolproof security at educational institutions due to this. He said police were committed to foiling the conspiracies of elements involved in anti-state activities.

The DIG instructed those present to install CCTV cameras and alarms at educational institutions. He said the height of the outer walls should be increased. Ashraf said policemen would be tasked with securing educational institutions especially at opening and closing times. He directed senior police officials to ensure that police teams patrolled educational institutions in their divisions.

The officials assured Ashraf of full cooperation and vowed to immediately implement the proposed suggestions at their educational institutions. The DIG told them that they should contact police stations in their vicinity or call on him if they needed the police’s assistance. Officials from the University of the Punjab, the University College Lahore, the University of Management and Technology, the Punjab College and the Government College University were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18^th, 2014.