MUZAFFARGARH: The district government ordered on Monday to close the schools which did not make security arrangements.

The administration asked them to complete the arrangements by 15th otherwise stern action would be taken.

Mukhtar Mai Girls High School, a charity school of Mukhtaran Mai Foundation, was also closed on Monday because of ‘inadequate’ security.

Executive District Officer (Education) Ishfaq Gujjar said A+ category schools mostly located in urban areas had arranged CCTV camaras and walk-through gates.

He said all government schools opened on Monday under strict security arrangements while Bloomfield Hall and the Country Public School, both posh schools located in the city, were closed as their boundary walls were low and there were no walk-through gates and cameras.

Mukhtar Mai school also closed, institutes told to take steps by 15th

He said the administration did not give them permission or clearance.

Women rights activist Mukhtar Mai alleged that Mukhtar Mai Girls High School was not given clearance and neither she nor her staff were called in meetings held by the DCO.

She said more than 700 girls were getting education in her school in Mirwala and 300 in Gabar Arain school. She said the government had already set up a police checkpoint near the school and now she did not have financial capacity to buy CCTV cameras and walk-through gates.

She said she tried to approach the district government for clearance but failed.

When contacted, the education EDO said he would visit Mirwala to review security at the school.

Dawn has learnt that more than 100 schools for boys and girls have neither boundary walls nor other facilities like washrooms, main gates and security guards.

Officials say there are 2,091 government schools in Muzaffargarh district. Of them 500 schools are in A categories and Standard Operating Procedures for them have been completed while the remaining schools will be opened on Jan 15.

On Alipur Road, private boarding schools like Missali Public School, Shakir Academy and Superior Science School have installed cameras with walk-through gates.

Chaudhry Abdul Rauf, superior school principal, said more than 10,000 students were getting education in these academies and he with the help of the government made strict security arrangements and during school hours all doors would be closed.

DCO Hafiz Shaukat Ali said: “Arms licences had been banned but for schools security the government has allowed issuance of licences.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2015

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