MULTAN: Educational institutions are on threat alerts and a security strategy has been devised in a meeting with schools’ heads of Multan division and security agencies.

Commissioner Asadullah Khan said this at a press conference on Thursday. Regional Police Officer (RPO) Tariq Masoof Yasin, City Police Officer Azhar Akram and district coordination officers of Vehari, Khanewal and Lodhran were also present.

Commissioner Khan said security agencies and civil administration officials met educational institutions’ heads.

“As there is a background to these threats, we’ve increased the security of educational institutions as we have to fight terrorism,” he said.

He said educational institutions would install surveillance cameras and hire trained security guards.

He said terrorist elements were using social media to trap the students. He said counseling sessions for students, especially of the BZU, would be held regarding extremism and violence.

RPO Yasin said educational institutions needed to take measures to counter radicalism among students.

“Only the head of an institute will take action against the students and faculty members involved in spreading extremism,” he said.

He said the police would not take any direct action in any educational institution because of their sanctity.

“Action will only be taken if there are intelligence reports or the administration of the institution requests us to do so,” he said.

He said no hindrance was created in the working of reporters covering the Tashfeen Malik issue in Multan.

He said no security agency had stopped the university administration from sharing the academic record of Tashfeen with reporters. The university administration was unable to provide the record because of the ongoing examinations.

He said foreign journalists were provided with police guards for their security during their stay in the city.

He said private hostels, particularly in Gulgasht Colony, would be checked.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2015