NUML closed following threatening calls

According to sources, the university was closed down after receiving threats against foreign students.

ISLAMABAD:

Threatening phone calls received by the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) led to the university’s closure for three days on Thursday. Sources in the NUML administration said that the decision to close down the university was taken on the advisory issued by the Ministry of Interior in this regard.

Officials in the Ministry of Interior said that the advisory was issued to the university on the basis of information gathered by security agencies, which feared threats to the security of the educational institution which is host to many foreigners including a large number of Chinese students.

The advisory was sent to the university administration by the Crisis Management Cell of the ministry asking it to close down till Monday. The administration, in the wake of the October 2009 twin suicide attacks on the International Islamic University Islamabad, immediately acted upon the advisory and informed the police about the threat.

The Industrial area police provided additional security to the educational institution, which already had its own security guards and other measures in place. The specific nature of the threat was not clear; however, sources said that the security advisory warned that certain militant groups were planning on targeting the university with a possible suicide attack in a bid to create panic.

“After receiving a letter from the crisis management cell of Interior Ministry, the rector summoned an emergency meeting of the heads of all departments to review the security situation. The meeting decided to close the varsity for at least three days,” a NUML official said.

The university was closed immediately after the morning session on Thursday. Students living in the university hostels were allowed to enter only after strict checking at the entrance gates. A separate hostel of the university is reserved for foreign students, most of which is occupied by students of Chinese and Middle Eastern origin.

The decision to close down would also affect the entry tests for the BS programmes, which were scheduled to be held from Friday onwards. The university spokesperson said that the administration would announce new dates for the entry tests next week.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2010.