ISLAMABAD: Four seminaries were temporarily shut and vacated on Thursday, as part of security measures for the flag hoisting ceremony on Friday (today).

Similar measures were taken in March with seminaries being shut for a week, to ensure security during the Pakistan Day Parade at the Parade Ground near Shakarparian.

According to police sources, officials and concerned authorities had decided to close 45 seminaries and shrines in the second week of August to ensure security. An official, requesting anonymity, told Dawn that these seminaries were located near the Convention Centre.

Later, following discussions, it was decided that four seminaries would be temporarily closed and vacated. The official said other seminaries and shrines would be put under strict surveillance and security personnel would be deployed there.

Negotiations took place between the authorities and the administrators of the four seminaries, namely Jamia Siddiq Anwarul Quran at Rawal Dam Chowk, Madressah Ashraful Uloom on Murree Road, Siddiq-e-Akbar near Kashmir Chowk and Masjid Aman at Rawal Dam Chowk. The administrators agreed to give the students five-day holiday and send them home.

The students and teachers, the official said, left for their native towns or were shifted to other religious seminaries.

A joint team of capital police and paramilitary troops carried out a search operation at various seminaries operating in the capital.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015

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