Security concerns: No guests at PU hostels

LAHORE:

The Punjab University (PU) has prohibited students living on campus from entertaining guests at hostels in the wake of the Peshawar carnage.

The decision has been in place since the varsity reopened following an extended winter break due to security concerns at educational institutions nationwide. Education institutions had been asked to beef up security following the Peshawar massacre that had left 130 students of Army Public School in Peshawar dead. The decision was introduced as part of a security plan being implemented at the varsity. Hall Council chairman Muhammad Akhtar told The Express Tribune that hostelites had been informed about the restriction. He said they had been urged to strictly follow it. Those found guilty of flouting the role would be asked to vacate their room in accordance with the varsity’s policy, he said. University spokesman Khurram Shahzad said a similar directive had been sent to the institution by the government. He said the regulation had been announced before the varsity reopened for the current academic session on Monday. Shahzad said the university’s administration had conducted a raid on its hostels on Tuesday. He said no foreigner was recovered in the raid. Shahzad said a team had raided hostels 15, 17, 18 and 19 and nabbed four students residing there illegally.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2015.