Punjab directed to revisit security on campuses

LAHORE
JUSTICE Syed Mansoor Ali Shah of the Lahore High Court Thursday directed the Punjab government to revisit the arrangements for security on the educational institutions throughout Punjab and submit a comprehensive report covering all aspects of standard operating procedures (SOPs) adopted after the tragic incident of the Army Public School in Peshawar.
The court observed that it was a national issue as lives of the younger generation were at stake and their parents were worried about their security. The court remarked that it was a good omen that students were going to school despite security threats and the government should have completed security arrangements before opening of all schools in one go.
The petitioner, advocate Zain Sikander has moved the petition. He argued that the notification regarding the opening of schools be declared null and void in the absence of proper security cover. Parents, the major stakeholders should be kept informed about the implementation of SOPs and report be submitted to the court in this regard. The court heard the petitioner at some length and ordered personal appearance of the respondents in view of the urgency of the matter.
Special Secretary Home, Special Secretary Schools and CCPO appeared before the court on short notice and the court resumed hearing.
On a query, Special Secretary Home Syed Wajahat Hamdani said classification of schools had been done keeping in view the security threats and the vulnerable ones had been given priority. He said a sum of Rs2 billion had been provided by the Punjab Government for provision of security gadgets like metal detectors, walkthrough gates and CCTV cameras. He divulged that monitoring teams had been constituted under supervision of DCOs in the Punjab and reports were being collected on daily basis. Special Secretary School, Muhammad Gulzar submitted that boundary walls of educational institutions were being raised high and the work was being monitored by all the secretaries and a daily report in this regard was being sent to chief minister. Security of sensitive schools has been beefed up and special branch officials have also been deputed there.
CCPO, Lahore Amin Wains informed the court that the issue had been prioritised and the efforts were afoot to update the security paraphernalia.
The court adjourned the hearing until January 19 and announced holding the next hearing in camera in view of the sensitivity of the matter.